A seven-year study has found that poorer children are more likely to be overweight than those who are from richer backgrounds.
The Growing Up in Ireland report found that 20 percent of children in the lowest income bracket were overweight with another seven percent falling into the obese category.
However, just 13 percent of children from the highest income bracket were found to be overweight and just three percent to be obese.
The study followed over 5,000 children from the ages of nine months old until they were seven to eight years old and found huge differences in the eating habits and health of children from lower income backgrounds in comparison to more affluent backgrounds.
However, while the percentage of children falling into the overweight or obese categories continues to rise, surprisingly 80 percent of parents say they believed their children were a healthy weight.
“Obesity and diet are issues which must continue to be addressed to ensure the health of our children,” said children’s Minister Katherine Zappone of the study’s findings.
“This evidence will feed into future policy not just in my own area but right across Government.”
