Ireland has one of the lowest rates of childhood obesity in Europe

Ireland has one of the lowest rates of childhood obesity.

New data published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that Ireland has one of the lowest rates of childhood obesity in Europe. The childhood obesity surveillance initiative also showed that southern Europe has the highest rates of obesity in children. France, Norway, Ireland, Latvia and Denmark are among the countries with the lowest rates, with between five and nine percent of boys and girls being obese. Italy, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Malta and San Marino have the highest rates with approximately one in five boys (18 percent to 21 percent) being obese. The data was compiled from 38 countries in Europe, with 34 of these providing data concerning overweight and obese children. The UK did not take part in the study. Dr Joao Breda, Head of the WHO European Office for Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, Moscow, Russia said:

“In countries like Italy, Portugal, Spain and Greece although rates are high there has been an important decrease which is attributable to a very significant effort that these countries have put in recent years into management and prevention of childhood obesity. “It is crucial to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables in children while reducing their intake of sweets and particularly sugary soft drinks."