Health Committee aims to tackle childhood obesity
We need to take "personal and collective responsibility" for our children's' weight, Oireachtas Health Committee Chair Jerry Buttimer has said.
The Oireachtas Committee will hold the first of three meetings on childhood obesity today.
A recent 'Growing Up in Ireland' study showed obesity among Irish children is higher than in many other northern European countries.
Deputy Buttimer said that the report is a "wake-up call" and his own struggles with weight have underlined the importance of the issue to him.
"It's a wake-up call for many in society that we are creating future serious health risks and today's meeting is one of three we'll be having over the coming weeks to tackle the issue," he said.
"It is one that we need to take personal and collective ownership of, because we are creating difficulties in the future from an economic point of view, from a social health policy point of view and indeed from a personal point of view in terms of the eating habits of a generation of young people."
