Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has any planned initiatives to address the teenage obesity issue highlighted in the report Growing Up Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57943/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Government shares with many other agencies and professional groups, concerns about the growth and nutrition of teenagers. Understanding factors associated with physical activity levels and overweight/obesity in Irish children is therefore critical to effective prevention efforts. The large scale study, ‘Growing Up in Ireland’ longitudinal study, which is funded by my Department, recently re-interviewed 7,400 who were 13 some four years after they were initially interviewed and, as part of this, information on the extent of overweight and obesity in this group was gathered. From this work and comparable international studies we know that child overweight and obesity are increasing in Ireland and other countries and are associated with a range of immediate and longer term health risks.

This study revealed that 74% of 13-year-olds were not overweight, 20% were overweight, and 6% were obese. As was the case at 9 years, more than one in four 13-year-olds were either overweight or obese. Girls were more likely to be classified as overweight than boys (22% compared to 18%). Girls were also slightly more likely to be obese than boys (8% compared to 5%).

Changes in weight status between 9 and 13 years of age, and indicates that relatively few not-overweight 9-year-olds had developed weight problems by age 13, but those with weight problems at 9 years tended to maintain them. This reinforces the importance of early intervention. Children who are a healthy weight at aged 3 or age 9 are much less likely to have weight problems as a teenager.

It is widely accepted by researchers that there is a strong link between physical activity and overweight, and habits formed in youth tend to carry over into adulthood. The Growing Up in Ireland Study also clearly confirms this finding. Young people who took more exercise were less likely to be overweight or obese, especially in comparison to those who never exercised.As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have responsibility for the National Play and Recreation Policies, as set out in ‘READY, STEADY, PLAY! A National Play Policy’ and the ‘National Recreation Policy for Young People’. These seek to actively promote the participation of children and young people in play and exercise, an effective way of helping to maintain a healthy weight.

The Local Authority Play and Recreation Network - was established by my Department in February 2012 to facilitate a more co-ordinated interagency approach to achieving the main goals of the play and recreation policies at both national and local level. An early achievement of the network has been the development, expansion and branding of National Play Day & National Recreation Week which now take place annually in Local Authority areas across the country in July and October of each year respectively. Targeted grants are provided to Local Authorities by my Department to encourage participation across the Local Authority network. In July 2012, National Play Day 2012 saw the largest ever participation with 26 Councils staging popular events on or around the dedicated date. National Recreation Week 2012 saw all counties in Ireland involved, for the first time ever. As previously announced I am providing €250,000 in capital funding in 2013 for play and recreation initiatives. Further details of this funding initiative will be announce in 2013.

A representative of my Department is a member of the Special Advisory Group on Obesity, established by the Minister for Health, which has developed a number of actions, in conjunction with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). These include technical support for providing calorie content information for small restaurant / coffee shop owners to facilitate young people in making healthy choices, and the development of Food and Nutrition guidelines for post primary schools.