Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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189. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which her Department has studied obesity in children with particular reference to identification of dietary habits and the dissemination of information or protocols to assist children, teenagers and parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14659/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In Ireland, The Growing Up in Ireland survey, 2011 found that 1 in 4 children as young as 3 years of age are overweight or obese and these figures are similar to those found in the Irish survey for the WHO Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative and The National Children’s Food Consumption Survey, 2005. One in five teenagers is overweight or obese according to The National Teens Survey. This is of great concern as there are a multitude of short and long-term effects in not only in childhood but also in later life.

Overweight and obesity are a public health priority for Minister for Health who has established a Special Action Group on Obesity whom he meets with regularly to progress the obesity prevention agenda. The Special Action Group on Obesity comprises key stakeholders including the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, and is chaired by the Department of Health. It is recognised that alone no single initiative will reverse this growing trend, but a combination of measures should make a difference. For this reason the Special Action Group is concentrating on a range of measures including actions such as:

Calorie posting in restaurants

There is strong support for this initiative among the general public and also, in fact, within much of the food industry itself. Calorie posting has already commenced in a number of establishments and it is envisaged that in the coming months, when the necessary implementation mechanism has been devised it will be further implemented.

Healthy Eating Guidelines, including the Food Pyramid

These were launched on 13 June 2012. They will help inform people about the food and drink choices required for a healthy lifestyle and set out in plain and simple language the food servings the Irish population need to consume to maintain health and well-being.

Marketing of Food and Drink to Children

The Department of Health has worked with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, with regard to the marketing of food and drink to children towards a new Children’s Code up to 18 years, to restrict marketing of high fat, high salt and high sugar foods and drinks up to 7 pm.

Media campaign on preventing childhood obesity

In November 2013 a three year media campaign was jointly launches by the Ministers for Health and Children and Youth Affairs which aims to provide parents with practical tips in helping to ensure children and young people maintain a healthy weight. The advertising campaign is backed up by social media and printed resources for parents and also professionals both of whom were closely involved in developing the campaign. Reaction to the first phase has been very positive from parents and the second phase of the campaign is due to start shortly, focusing on increasing physical activity.