IRELAND HAS the fattest children in Europe, FF TD and GP Dr Jimmy Devins told the Dáil.

“It is frightening,” he said.

“That is a time bomb which is building up and which will explode in all our faces, and particularly, unfortunately, in the health of our children as they mature into teenagers and adults,” he added

Dr Devins, who represents Sligo-North Leitrim, said that 30 years ago, the weight of Irish children was average in comparison with those in Europe.

He said that an obesity epidemic was sweeping the State, causing over 4,000 deaths annually.

He had been informed, he said, that there had been no operations on those in danger of losing their lives from obesity since January. About 400 such operations were needed every year.

Speaking during a debate on obesity, Dr Devins said that there should be a HSE clinic in each of the agency’s areas for those with obesity-related health issues. There should also be an immediate resumption of the publicly funded operations for those requiring gastric bypasses.

Calling on people to exercise more, Dr Devins said that walking and jogging would not cost the State anything.

“Those who claim they cannot find the time, know well they can easily find it,” he said.

He called for a food-labelling system with a green label for healthy foods, orange for those high in calories, and red for those to be avoided.

Minister of State for Health Aine Brady said that a recent survey of lifestyles, attitude and nutrition indicated that 38 per cent of the population in Ireland was overweight and a further 23 per cent obese.

“Essentially, therefore, two-thirds of the population were either overweight or obese,” she said.

“These figures are broadly similar to rates in England and Scotland, and approximately 5 per cent lower than rates in the USA.”

The number of overweight or obese people had risen from 57 per cent to 61 per cent in less than a decade, she said.

Ms Brady said that the trend in obesity was greatest in the lower socio-economic groups.

The latest data found that, overall, 26 per cent of seven-year-old girls were overweight or obese with a corresponding figure of 18 per cent for boys.

Evidence had been found of the over-consumption of foods high in fats and sugar, such as oils, butter, cakes and biscuits.

“On average, Irish adults consumed a little over seven daily servings of these types of food,” she added.

Ms Brady said that overweight or obese people were at an increased risk of developing a chronic condition.

The Institute of Public Health forecast significant increases in coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes as a result of smoking and high obesity levels.