Children from poorer areas more likely to be obese and find it

SCHOOL children from disadvantaged areas who suffer from obesity are less likely to lose the weight compared with children from wealthier socio-economic backgrounds.

The study by the National Nutrition Surveillance Centre (NNSC) at UCD found the levels of overweight and obese children in first class at more than 100 schools nationwide generally declined over the course of the study. They were surveyed initially in 2008 and again in 2010, 2012 and 2015.

Overall, the level of obesity went from 21.6pc of all participants in 2008 to 16.9pc in 2015. Boys tended to be less obese than girls with 17.2pc of boys classified as obese or overweight in 2008 compared with 13.2pc in 2015.

More than a quarter, or 25.3pc, of girls surveyed in 2008 were overweight or obese compared with 20.4pc in 2015.

However, the study, titled ‘The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative’, found that at

least one-in-five Irish children is still dangerously overweight or obese.

“The unfortunate truth is that we are on course to become the most obese nation in Europe, unless we take action now. Tackling childhood obesity is a key priority for me as minister,” Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Minister of State for Health Promotion, said at the launch of the study yesterday.

The study found that children from DEIS (Delivering Equality in Schools) schools in economically-deprived areas were more likely to remain obese, with more than a quarter or 25.3pc of disadvantaged children being obese in 2008 and 21.7pc still obese in 2015.

Mirjam Heinen, lead investigator and NNSC dietician, said factors such as the high cost of nutritional food and/or lack of education on healthy eating could explain the higher obesity rates amongst poorer children.

But other factors, such as the lack of playgrounds or sports facilities in poorer areas, could also be factors.