A NEW STUDY has found that most people in Ireland do not know that children aged 0 to 5 years of age are most at risk of obesity.
Almost all adults (97%) were found to be unaware that children under the age of five were most at risk of becoming obese and remaining obese throughout their lives.
Of those asked, one third thought that the 5 to 15 age category was most at risk of obesity, while one third also thought that the 15 to 30 age category was most at risk of becoming obese.
What else did we learn about health?
The research from the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) took a broad look at the physical activity and exercise that Irish adults take.
Nearly 40% of those asked were not aware of the link between physical inactivity and mortality.
More than 80% did not know that individuals need at least 30 minutes physical exercise five times a week.
When asked how their level of activity had changed in the previous five years, 37% said that they were less physically active while 41% said that they are now more physically active.
The group found to have increased their exercise the most in the past five years was Dubliners, with 50% saying they were more active.
What can people do?
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme earlier today, representative from the ISCP, Jenny Branigan, said, “We’re trying to promote movement in people. Trying to get people out there and get away from that sedentary lifestyle that is creeping up on us at the moment.
Overall the trend seems to be that people are not aware of how much physical activity is required to try and keep healthy.
It has been recommended by the World Health Organisation that individuals get 150 minutes of exercise a week as well as two muscle strengthening sessions, which can involve a variety of activity.
The survey asked 1,000 Irish adults questions in the month of August, with quotas controlled for age, gender and region.
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