Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THERE HAS BEEN cautious optimism at new research that shows childhood obesity rates in Ireland have plateaued in primary school aged children.
The latest study published today in the BMC Public Health journal found that although obesity rates remain high, there is evidence that they have stabilised and may be beginning to fall.
Still high
While the findings provide some optimism, researchers say that the current plateau is at an unacceptably high level and that preventive strategies need to be sustained and intensified.
There has been a two to three fold increase over the last three decades in overweight and obesity prevalence in school age children across regions in North America and Western Europe.
It was estimated that by the year 2000, 25-33% of all children in many developed countries would be overweight and obese, and that obesity rates would continue to rise in the future. However, recent studies indicated that rates in developed countries may be starting to stabilise.
Researchers University College Cork (UCC) and University College Dublin (UCD) wanted to see if this was also the case in Ireland and conducted a systematic review of childhood overweight and obesity rates in primary school aged children between 2002 and 2012.
The review also looked at morbid obesity rates in children in the Republic of Ireland for the first time.
Obesity
The study analysed data from 14 studies conducted during the 10 year time frame. It revealed that childhood overweight rates had remained stable, but the national obesity rates dropped from a constant 7% to 4% after 2008.
Up to 1 in 50 children were shown to be morbidly obese, but there was no significant change in the prevalence of morbid obesity over the entire decade.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in girls than in boys.
The research paper states that, to date, few childhood obesity interventions have have been implemented in Ireland and interventions are “unlikely to explain why childhood overweight and obesity rates may be stabilising”.
Eimear Keane from UCC said their research suggests that prevalence rates of childhood obesity in Ireland have levelled off, but one in four Irish children remain overweight or obese.
“Obesity continues to have a significant impact on health and wellbeing, therefore policies that tackle the problem should be intensified,” she said.
The authors conclude that there is now a clear need for standardised methods for the conduct of studies that measure overweight and obesity in childhood in order to track future prevalence rates more effectively.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Would you like to dance ?
No.
Sorry I think you misheard me I said your arse looks fat in that dress……….
Irish women know that most Irish men are lacking somewhat when it comes to pleasing them so they have to be more picky.
From the man’s point – its the female’s apparent hatred of hygiene. Wearing purple and pink – and thinking that Bono is cool.
And saying – I have to be up for mass tomorrow……
@Will. I’m not inclined to believe anybody that especially the hygiene bit…
Hi show us your tits.
Any of…
You are such a troll
Had a woman tell me one night, in coppers no less ” get away outta that there’s a smell of bengy off ye” that was about 15 years ago and I still have no idea what bengy is… It was Lynx Africa I told her!!
Benjy was a character in The Riordans, they were farmers, just in case you are serious.
This was a Zig and Zag joke for years. It’s a reference to Benjy from the Riordans many years ago.
GET IN THE VAN NOW! usually works
I’m Jimmy Saville works as good as that?
Can’t beat the chase of the Irish girls … the rejection. Great craic!
There are lines other than “will ya meet me mate over there?”?? huh…
I’ve lived in a few countries and Dublin women are definitely the most obnoxious and stuck up. I’ve seen a lot of my mates (no they weren’t hammered) get laughed at/told to p off by groups of very average looking women when they could have had a bit of banter or politely decline.
Thankfully I’ve never suffered it myself as I’m deadly looking but Dublin girls really need to up their game. Poland and Czech Republic have the hottest and least up themselves women. Great combo.
I love Irish men, once I get chatting to them that is, but in a nightclub Irish men can be aggressive messes (drunk, leering and just grab you) and at this point you just want to get away!
Honestly some nights the only thing you want to do is chat to your mates, have a few drinks and dance without anyone bothering you.
Also no one has brought this up but groping? How many women have been groped simply as a come on as they move through a night club or the dance floor? Not so much in Dublin but down the country! New Years Eve in Carlow was traumatic.
Headed out sat night, need to find my stick. I’ll be beating them off all night
They will probably have their own sticks……and dogs :)
My favourite chat-up line is Jimmy Carr’s “can you hold my pint while I go for a sh!t” or “here, does this rag smell like Rohypnol?”
Do you grass?
No!
Your the first cow I met that doesn’t
No woman likes a man who is hammered off his face. …. and they tend to be just that on a night out. Most chat up lines are either immensely cheesy, which is a pukefest, or immenseley vulgar… same outcome! If a guy stayed half sober I imagine he’d get a lot further :)
That may just be the ones I have come across, of course :)
Two simple steps to make sure you are never ever rejected by Mrs Shalakalananaka-
1. Ask the DJ to put on YMCA
2. Stand in front of her and dance to the whole song
Alternatively, be Benedict Cumberbatch, but my 2 step programme works as well too.
Will ya have a dance?
WHA?
Sorry, I think you misheard. I said you look fat in those pants.
Al, beat you too it ;)
You remind me of a movie star…..Mickey Rooney
Ask me sister I’m sweatin
You hav to do the Carlton from fresh prince, approach them like.. haaaaayyy..!! Then do the shuffle..
Jerseys and bad breath,no thanks
And that’s just the women…
Would you like to marry me?
I’d rather have a frontal lobotomy, a week in Cork – and three of my arms severed by a werewolf from Balinrobe….,…
Nothing has changed since the 60′s so!
Any women who spend the first 17-18 years of their lives in a convent are bound to hold certain prejudices. But because it’s so common in Ireland it’s often overlooked.
That’s a very 20th century point of view.
I’d always be up for a bit of banter because some guys can be very funny with their chat up lines. There was an awkward moment where a guy sidled up and attempted flirtation while the husband was standing beside me. We all had a laugh about it and chatted throughout the night. If a guy chances his arm and keeps it respectful, don’t tell him to F off, take it as a compliment and if you’re not interested don’t be a cow about it. I don’t like when a guy gets aggressive or messy and then threatening and abusive when you decline his sweaty, groping advances.
Your eyes are like spanners love, every time I look into them they tighten my nuts…..
Does this rag smell like chloroform to you?
Rohypnol you mean?
This site seems to really hate any form humour??? But they seem to back the clowns in government without knowing “taylor rules” within the E.U. structure for here?
Does this skirt make me look fat, no dear it is just the fat?
In ireland its always the pub,if you see a woman you like on wednesday at the petrol pumps ask her out,women arent always in the pub to meet men,they go out sometimes to just dance and dont want a man
“Me friend wants to know will you go with me” ah the innocence!
Because they are rotten with drink or have small wallets lol.
Eat grass
have your say