Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----but this is such an important and, pardon my sad pun, such a massive issue.

It must be emphasised that childhood obesity has consequences not only for the physical health of the individual concerned but also for his or her emotional and psychological well-being, vitality and life. It is all well and good to say such a person is fat and should just eat well, but it is not that simple. I have lived this. It is not down to bad parenting. I have great parents. It is just not that simple. It is a complex issue. The Minister of State has said that.

I will not go into the statistics in detail because we all know it is problem but, basically, in Ireland 26.6% of boys under the age of 20 are overweight with 6.9% obese, and 25.6% of girls under the age of 20 are overweight with 7.2% obese. This is an epidemic. I have been talking about this issue since I first got elected and it is only recently that we are starting to make some sort of an impact on it. I get very frustrated at times. In light of these statistics, we looked at the issue in the Netherlands because it appears to have produced some results in reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity and its rates are low in any case. Some 18% of boys there are overweight with 4% being obese. Therefore, the Netherlands is performing very well on international standards on the issue of obesity.

The Minister of State has already spoken about policies, and they are very welcome. Any measures are welcome but anyone who says this issue comes down to parenting and that children just need to eat less is not educated on this issue. The Healthy Ireland strategy proposes a ten-point action plan, to which the Minister of State referred. That is all good and we are speaking in terms of aims, striving and that type of language but we need to get to a place where we are achieving results. I do not want to be negative because that is not what this is about.

Ireland has sought to place rigorous restrictions on advertising aimed at children. While the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has a strict code which restricts the advertising of high fat and high sugar, we are very much subject to what the UK does because we watch UK television a good deal of the time. That is a major issue.

One cannot out-train a bad diet, therefore, physical activity will only keep one so healthy. That is evidenced by the number of MAMILs, middle-aged men in lycra, one sees on bikes at the weekend cycling their legs off and potentially wrecking their knees. Fair play to them and they are healthier but they are no thinner. If one is carrying fat around one's abdomen, it is a danger to one's health. Fat takes on its own hormonal system and it affects all of one's health. I have learned this through bitter experience. I am not talking about this like I am holier than thou or better than anyone. I have lived this and I was chronically obese as a child so I know what I am talking about on this issue. Therefore, physical activity will go only so far in addressing this issue.

With regard to the role of schools and education, many witnesses we met made reference to the key role schools must play in tackling childhood obesity, obviously, along with the children's parents. While schools have made many improvements in recent years, more can be done in this space. A number of possible measures for schools were discussed such as making health and well-being mandatory elements in school inspections and additional training for teachers in order that they know how to address physical and mental health issues such as complex ones like this.

Is the Acting Chairman indicating that I have one minute remaining?