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Childhood
obesity – a weighty issue for Northern Ireland
In Northern
Ireland over half a million adults are overweight and a
further 250,000 are obese. Today the Health Promotion Agency
for Northern Ireland warned that poor choices in eating
habits and lifestyle by adults are affecting the health
of children as increases in childhood obesity emerge.
Dr Brian
Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency
explained:
“The statistics for adults are worrying but there is an increasing concern
for children, where a similar pattern is emerging. In Northern Ireland a third
of boys and a quarter of girls aged 12 are carrying excess weight. Research shows
that obesity can impact on a child’s life on many levels and casts a shadow
over future health. Obesity can present immediate and future health problems
including high blood pressure, raised blood cholesterol levels and an increased
risk of heart disease and diabetes. Overweight children can also suffer from
psychological problems including depression and a lack of self-confidence and
self-esteem.”
It is
now generally agreed among health professionals that the
fundamental causes of the growing obesity epidemic are
inactive lifestyles and high fat, high calorie eating patterns
resulting from the changes taking place in society and
our food culture.
To encourage
parents and carers to help children make healthier lifestyle
and food choices, the British Dietetic Association has
launched an ‘Eat 2b Fit’ campaign which will
run throughout the month of June. The campaign will provide
children, schools and families with advice on eating a
balanced and varied diet for good health and gives tips
on how to top up physical activity levels. As part of this
campaign registered dietitians across the UK will be working
with children and their carers encouraging them to ‘Eat
2b Fit’.
Dr Gaffney
said that the Health Promotion Agency welcomed the ‘Eat
2b Fit’ initiative and he outlined the campaign advice:
“Meals in a healthy diet should be based around starchy foods such as bread,
potatoes and cereals. Everyone should try to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
and go easy on foods and drinks high in fats or sugar. Increased physical activity
will also help to promote weight loss and general good health.”
Dr Gaffney
continued:
“In support of the British Dietetic Association’s ‘Eat 2b Fit’ campaign,
the latest issue of the Health Promotion Agency journal Promoting Health has
focused on the issue of obesity. Issued to professionals throughout Northern
Ireland with an interest in, or responsibility for, health, Promoting Health journal
provides an insight into the causes and extent of the problem here. We hope it
will stimulate debate about how health, education and other professionals can
work together to tackle this serious problem.”
Interested
members of the public can access the Promoting Health journal
through the Health Promotion Agency website at www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk .
END
Notes
to editors:
- The
British Dietetic Association, founded in 1936, is the
professional association for Registered Dietitians (RDs)
in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The BDA has over
5,000 members. More information can be found at www.bda.uk.com
For
further information:
Contact
Jenny Dougan or Margaret McCrory at the Health Promotion
Agency on 028 9031 1611.
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