Seanad debates

Wednesday, 17 May 2017

Childhood Obesity: Statements

 

10:30 am

Photo of Catherine NooneCatherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, to the House. I have had many conversations with her on this issue. I have long been a voice on the issue of obesity, in particular childhood obesity, not least because of personal experience.

The prevalence of obesity has rocketed in Ireland in recent times, with 61% of adults and 25% of children currently overweight or obese. There is no disputing that obesity is a major public challenge. I agree with Senator Dolan's points in this regard, particularly in regard to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and the significant burden it places on the individual first and foremost and on health spending. One of the most recent reports compiled by the World Health Organization, WHO, on the issue predicted that Ireland was on course to be the fattest nation in Europe by 2030. As the situation stands, 61% of adults are either overweight or obese. With one in four primary school children either overweight or obese, we are on track to have more obese adults in time.

According to A Healthy Weight for Ireland - Obesity Policy and Action Plan, the prevalence of overweight and obese children was higher in schools in disadvantaged areas than in other schools. I think that is well known. In most deprived areas, just over one in four people aged 15 years and over is obese compared with fewer than one in six in less deprived areas. The direct and indirect cost of obesity is estimated at approximately €1.13 billion. As has been highlighted by several experts in recent years, sugar consumption is one of the main culprits, not only for obesity but in the level of tooth decay. The level of tooth decay has been described by Dr. Anne Twomey, vice president of the Irish Dental Association, as catastrophic. An alarming number of young children and babies are developing cavities and decay at a very early age. According to a report from the Royal College of Surgeons in the United Kingdom, extractions among children under the age of five years has risen by almost 2,000 a year in the past decade. Experts say a combination of poor diet and too much sugar is to blame. Ensuring sugary drinks and foods that are targeted at children are more expensive is one way to prevent tooth cavities and childhood obesity.

Although I have warmly welcomed the introduction of the obesity policy and action plan and commend the Minister of State's work in this area, I believe more can be done. I agree with the point Senator Dolan made that this is not a problem that can be cured overnight. I was a member of a delegation that went to Amsterdam recently where they are ahead of the curve on this issue. One of the things I learned was that it takes patience to sort out this issue. It will take years, it did not happen overnight and will not be solved overnight.

While food served in schools accounts for a growing proportion of children's food intake, it is not subject to any national guideline or standards, despite the identification of obesity as a major threat to the current future health of this generation of children. The haphazard approach to food provision also extends to the State-funded school meals local project scheme and the school completion programme. These are excellent programmes in many respects but incorporate no mandatory requirement for the supply of healthier food options and there is no monitoring of the quality of the food provided.

The Irish Heart Foundation conducted a survey in 2015 on food provision in post-primary schools and examined what second level students were eating, models of food provision and whether national standards are needed or wanted by school authorities. The research found that 37% of schools offered full hot meals and 30% offered cold snacks such as sandwiches. Nearly 70% of schools offered hot snacks, including sausage rolls, pizza slices and paninis, all calorie-laden stodge. A quarter of schools have tuck shops and 47% had vending machines, when we know the problem we have with this issue.

I agree with Senator Dolan's point on the marketing of foods high in fat, sugar and salt to children in the digital media and on television, but also in non-broadcasting media such as commercial sponsorship in schools and codes of practice in shops. The "Stop Targeting Kids" petition is the latest step in the Irish Heart Foundation's fight to protect children from obesity, following research published last summer. In that report, it was exposed how junk food companies were deliberately targeting children in a much more individualised way online than they ever could through television advertising and using high tech analytics to target children. These analytics should be used in reverse. We should ensure companies promoting these products actively avoid children.

I will outline what can be done. We need to ban television advertising, product placement and sponsorship of food and drink. We need the introduction of a statutory regulatory system for online and digital advertising. We need to designate schools as protected environments, free from all forms of marketing, and develop a code of practice to control placement of unhealthy foods at toddler and child level at supermarket checkouts, and in fairness retailers such as Tesco have taken a responsible approach. We need to restrict the sponsorship by food companies of children's sporting events and limit the provision and sale of fatty snacks.

The Government has a duty to support disadvantaged communities to realise the benefit of family food incentives because disadvantaged communities have the highest levels of obesity. Considering ways of making healthy food accessible and affordable for people on low incomes has to be a priority. Actions to address the social determinants of health and to reduce health inequality, such as incorporating health impact assessments and health equity impacts, is a necessity.

With regard to obesity during pregnancy, a study conducted by the Best Start Resource in Canada has identified maternal obesity as a strong risk factor in the odds of offspring being overweight at aged seven years. This has been shown to increase by 3% for every kilo over the recommended weight gain guidance of the expectant mother. This is startling. I will write to the Minister on the positive measures.

I commend the Minister of State on her work. We have a long road ahead in dealing with this issue.

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