Spotlight on childhood obesity
One in four Irish children is now overweight or obese. That's according to a new Growing Up in Ireland study which has been published as the government prepares to launch a major new public health campaign. The advertising campaign will be launched by the Health Minister James Reilly today and will feature TV, radio, poster and point of sale communications as well as online and print resources. Healthy eating body Safefood is focusing on a number of key messages to parents to show them the practical steps they can take to help their children lead a healthy lifestyle and avoid excessive weight gain which tends to plague people for life. Some of the practical steps recommended will include portion control, choosing healthy drinks, being active and getting enough sleep. A number of studies have shown that inadequate night-time sleep is associated with weight gain particularly amongst preschool children. Although the exact relationship is not known, scientists believe inadequate sleep can disrupt the metabolism, while fatigue can lead to more snacking and less activity. The new campaign which will be rolled out today is set to run for three years with funding from the Department of Health.
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