Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion

9:30 am

Dr. John Sharry:

The main issue they would highlight as a difficulty is the battles with their children over dinners to get them to eat vegetables or healthy food. Often they fall into despair that they cannot do it. They also have their own battles with their own health and those routines.

The outcomes would be them feeling a bit more empowered. They can do this in a positive way, involve their children and get their children on board. They can get young children thinking that they will not be marketed at and controlled by the food sector and will make their own choices and be healthy as well. The big benefit is that if one gets the family working as a unit together, it is not parents and children battling but them all in this together. There are many other intermediate benefits. We are talking about people having a nice dinner that they cook together and enjoy. That has enormous relationship benefits in the family. Everybody feels proud and connected. They have a better routine around sleep. There is a time for talking and chatting at night before sleep, and that is healthy. That has huge benefits for family as well. These all are gains that have multiple benefits.