‘Everyone looks for excuses’: Donncha O’Callaghan on kids and fitness

"I want them knowing that they earned a treat because they were out running around."

Parents should take responsibility for their kids' health and fitness, Donncha O'Callaghan has said. The former Irish international, now a coach on Ireland's Fittest Family on RTÉ, says we shouldn't pass blame when it comes to our own families. "Now you can blame the different bodies and organisations that should be doing more, but as a father of four beautiful kids, the onus is on me to ensure they’re fit and healthy and well,"the told the Irish Sun. "I don’t want my kids calorie counting but I want them knowing that they earned a treat because they were out running around. For me, that’s my responsibility and obligation as a parent." The Cork man is due to bow out of professional rugby next year but says he'll push his own kids to play sport. He's dad to three girls, Sophie, Anna and Robin and a son Jake. "I 100 per cent want my kids to be involved in sport, because I think it instills great values and you make great friends," he told RTÉ. "But the big area for me is that you want them to be healthy, well, fit, happy and I think everyone looks for excuses. "Sadly, at the moment, there is one in four of our kids are obese and everyone’s looking to blame different sectors." Donncha wants to ensure his lot grow up with a knowledge of nutrition and keep active as much as possible and pointed out that fitness doesn't have to be costly for families. "You don’t need gym membership, you don’t need any equipment, you don’t need to be a part of a team. You have it there under your own roof," he said.