Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs

Tackling Childhood Obesity: Discussion

9:30 am

Professor Cecily Kelleher:

Yes, I do, and I think it is very important. No, it is not in the childhood obesity surveillance initiative, COSI, protocol because that is a core protocol, but there are other researchers who are looking at flexibility, which is a very key piece, and mobility across the life course. I think that is very important.

The issue around sedentary behaviour is increasingly of great interest. I might give the committee an example from the department of preventative medicine in St. Vincent's hospital. We have a number of initiatives there at the moment which have a lot of engagement and which could be replicated elsewhere. For instance, we have regular walks that people take as part of the work programme. We have introduced a step exercise programme whereby staff periodically get up from their desk and hop up and down on the step for a couple of minutes and then sit down again. That is something we hope could become much more widespread for people who are primarily sedentary workers. We have other exercise programmes which have a lot of engagement. Physical activity is a way in for young people-----