Report calls for school vending-machine ban

Food-vending machines should be banned in primary schools in an effort to tackle childhood obesity, a report into the problem has recommended.

The report, by the National Taskforce on Obesity, also recommends the Taoiseach's office take charge of fighting the problem of obesity and that the Department of Finance investigate the possibility of providing State subsidies for healthy food such as fruit and vegetables.

The Department of Agriculture should consider positive discrimination in the provision of grants and funding to local industry in favour of healthy products, the report also says.

Some 300,000 out of a total of 820,000 children are estimated to be either overweight or obese in Ireland. Some 39 per cent of adults are overweight and that 18 per cent are obese, according to the report. Obesity: the Policy Challengesestimates obesity is responsible for around 2,000 premature deaths in Ireland each year.

"There is no doubt but that we have a major challenge on our hands," John Treacy, said.

"Successfully tackling the problem can only be achieved be a concerted effort across all sectors of society - public, private and commercial - and the taskforce is unanimous in its view that the recommendations outlined in this report are realistic and achievable."

Commenting on the report, the Taoiseach said obesity and being overweight are problems "affecting millions of people all over the world and in Ireland".

"We recognise that the prevalence of overweight adults has increased dramatically, particularly over the past ten years and that remedial action must be taken to abate the problem."

The report, which makes 93 recommendations, said a clear code of practice should be drawn up in relation to the provision and content of vending machines in secondary schools.

Every child should be able to achieve a minimum of 30 minutes dedicated physical activity, every day, in all educational settings, and all schools should meet the minimum requirement of two hours of PE per week, delivered by qualified staff.

The report also recommends investigating the marketing and advertising of products that contribute to weight gain - particularly those aimed at children.