Children targeted in new anti-obesity campaign

The Government has announced a new anti-obesity drive that encourages children and teenagers to avoid unhealthy junk food and eat five pieces of fruit or portions of vegetables each day.

The campaign, the brainchild of the Health Promotion Unit of the Department of Health and Children, also aims to encourage both adults and children to take more exercise. Adults are advised to take half an hour of moderate exercise a day, while children are recommended to take an hour.

As part of the campaign to encourage more exercise, nutrition guidelines have been drawn up for pre-school and primary school children.

The drive, entitled "Take Five Steps . . . to a Healthier You", begins tomorrow. A website, www.healthysteps.ie, has been set up, while leaflets and posters will also be produced and materials for schools, workplaces and health professionals are being printed.

Prior to the campaign, researchers held a number of focus groups in Dublin, Cork and Galway to gauge young people's attitude to healthy eating and exercise.

The groups found that despite the fact most young people were well informed about the causes and consequences of obesity, they often opted for unhealthy foods.

The studies also found girls aged 13 and 14 did very little, if any, physical exercise. Most boys were regularly active and involved in games and sports.

The recent National Children's Food Survey found that 12 per cent of girls were overweight and a further 12 per cent were obese. Eleven per cent of boys were overweight, and 9 per cent of them were obese.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children Séan Power said today children need to be taught at an early age to eat healthily and to remain active.

"The health benefits of eating the recommended portions of fruit and vegetables are well documented and regular consumption can help protect against heart disease, cancer and other major illnesses," Mr Power said.

"As well as these health benefits, getting children into the habit of choosing an apple, a banana or a carton of fruit juice as a regular snack food, instead of choosing high fat, high sugar foods and drinks, will help reduce the threat of overweight or obesity."

He said a healthy diet could only prevent obesity if accompanied by regular exercise. The minister noted that while most boys remained active, there was a perception among young girls that being involved in sports wasn't "cool".

"The Departments of Health and Children, together with Education and Science, must work together to help young girls maintain their physical activity patterns into post primary school," he said.

Mr Power also announced details this morning of a new National Nutrition Policy, which is intended to improve habits over the next five to ten years.

As part of this campaign, nutrition guidelines have been drawn up for pre-school and primary school children. Others are also being devised for second-level schools.

Parents are also to be encouraged to pack fruit in their children's lunchboxes instead of sweets or crisps and to prepare healthy meals in the home.