NI child obesity rates remain high
9% of children here classed as obese
A leading GP in Northern Ireland is warning high obesity rates among children are continuing, despite measures to try and tackle the issue.
On Tuesday, a survey by the Department of Health revealed 9% of children in Northern Ireland are classed as obese while 18% are deemed to be overweight.
The Department said the proportion of fat children here has remained at similar levels since 2010/11.
Despite better education around the link between weight and health problems in recent years, obesity rates among children here has remained unchanged.
George O'Neill is a GP in Belfast.
He told Downtown Cool FM it is a worrying trend:
"Obesity is a major contributor to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers.
"Gall bladder disease, gall stones, osteoarthritis, the wear and tear in your joints, gout, breathing problems and you could go on and on.
"The one common factor that seems to be unique to Northern Ireland is the deprived areas, the areas where there are life inequalities appear to have a greater problem with obesity."
Schools and the Public Health Agency have been working to communicate key messages around healthy lifestyles to try and tackle the problem in Northern Ireland.
Last month concerns were raised after it emerged government funding for primary school sports programmes had been axed due to budget pressures.
Over 400 primary schools benefited from the scheme.
Dr O'Neill said major new educational and awareness programmes need to be introduced at primary level:
"More and more the health professionals should be going into schools and speaking to young people.
"Health visitors, the old school nurse which appears to have disappeared, they all contributed to the health and well being of young school children."
He added: We're missing a trick with our education system we need to point out the dangers and risk that go with a lifestyle which can contribute to early, premature death."
A personal trainer in Cookstown is trying to tackle the growing levels by running fitness classes designed around children.
'Cali Kids', created by Shane Mulgrew, manufactured a specific program that involves exercise, skills, teamwork and socialising.
Shane told us why he wanted to start the classes:
"I got in touch with some old teachers, and they told me compared to us when we where at school, the obesity levels are much higher, they said their eating habits were poor, they were skipping P.E. classes, and in general their fitness levels were below standard.
"I wanted to invent something different, that you could combine so many skills that young children could carry into the future, while improving their fitness levels.
"Within our class we want to improve flexibility, self-esteem and improve poster and balance - and most importantly their mental strength."
And he said teachers, parents and superiors need to educate children about healthy diets and exercise more.
"I think we all, not just kids, got benefit from a better diet on a daily basis, but also in knowledge of diet. As superiors we can help kids learn about a healthy diet, to try and tackle these shocking figures."