Education Committee to discuss obesity and healthy eating in schools

Committee Chair Fiona O’Loughlin, TD said: “Various studies have shown that Ireland is set to become one of the most obese countries in Europe. While the latest results from Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) in Ireland show that levels of excess weight in children are stabilising they also indicate that:

• at least one in five children are overweight or obese;
• more girls than boys are overweight or obese across all ages; and
• those attending DEIS schools tend to have higher levels of overweight and obesity and the gap becomes wider as children get older.

Overweight children are more likely to become obese adults. However, schools can play a vital role in improving youth health, promoting healthy lifestyles and tacking obesity before the problem becomes established in later life. Through education about healthy lifestyles, healthy eating and nutrition and the provision of physical education, schools are in a unique position to have a major impact on obesity levels.

Tomorrow the Committee will examine the issue in detail with a number of experts, institutions and State bodies when we will meet with Claire Heneghan B.Ed., MSc.; Dr Celine Murrin and Dr Silvia Bel-Serrat, National Nutrition Surveillance Centre (UCD); representatives from Bord Bia; Safe Food; Irish Heart Foundation; Healthy Kidz; and officials from the Department of Education and Skills; and Department of Health.”

This meeting starts at 4pm on Tuesday, 24 October 2017 in Committee Room 2 Leinster House.