Education Committee to discuss obesity and healthy eating in schools

The Committee on Education and Skills will focus on tackling obesity and the promotion of healthy eating in schools at its meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, 24 October 2017.

Committee Chair Fiona O’Loughlin, TD said: “Various studies have shown that Ireland is set to become one of the most obese countries in Europe. While the latest results from Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) in Ireland show that levels of excess weight in children are stabilising they also indicate that:

•    at least one in five children are overweight or obese;
•    more girls than boys are overweight or obese across all ages; and
•    those attending DEIS schools tend to have higher levels of overweight and obesity and the gap becomes wider as children get older.

Overweight children are more likely to become obese adults. However, schools can play a vital role in improving youth health, promoting healthy lifestyles and tacking obesity before the problem becomes established in later life. Through education about healthy lifestyles, healthy eating and nutrition and the provision of physical education, schools are in a unique position to have a major impact on obesity levels.

Tomorrow the Committee will examine the issue in detail with a number of experts, institutions and State bodies when we will meet with Claire Heneghan B.Ed., MSc.; Dr Celine Murrin and Dr Silvia Bel-Serrat, National Nutrition Surveillance Centre (UCD); representatives from Bord Bia; Safe Food; Irish Heart Foundation; Healthy Kidz; and officials from the Department of Education and Skills; and Department of Health.”

This meeting starts at 4pm on Tuesday, 24 October 2017 in Committee Room 2 Leinster House. Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

Media Enquiries:

Ciaran Brennan,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2.

P: +353 1 6183903
M: +353 86 0496518
Email: Ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @OireachtasNews

Committee Membership:

Deputies

Carol Nolan  Sinn Féin
Catherine Martin Green Party
Ciarán Cannon  Fine Gael
Fiona O'Loughlin - Chair Fianna Fáil
Jim Daly  Fine Gael
Joan Burton  Labour
Thomas Byrne  Fianna Fáil

Senators

Lynn Ruane  Independent
Maria Byrne  Fine Gael
Robbie Gallagher  Fianna Fáil
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh  Sinn Féin