Government should implement report recommendations on childhood obesity
Labour spokesperson on Children, Sean Sherlock TD, has called on the government to implement the recommendations of the Oireachtas Committee on Children report into Childhood obesity.
Speaking today Deputy Sherlock said;
“We all know that when it comes to obesity, prevention is better than cure. What is so worrying about the growth in childhood obesity in Ireland is that not only are more children at an unhealthy weight, many are not even aware of what a healthy weight would be for their kids.
“We need to act now to help; through our schools, our healthcare system, and even local planning, to get kids into good habits. Recommendations such as free drinking water in schools, the removal of vending machines, and the creation of fast food free zones around schools can all contribute to the normalisation of healthy habits for children.
“The health of the next generation of Irish children has to be prioritised. If we do not intervene now to help educate and assist in the creation of good health habits, we will find ourselves in twenty years with higher rates of diabetes, cancers and a myriad of other avoidable health realities which will simply add to the strain of our HSE.
“These recommendations are practical, implementable and in the interest of children’s health.”