Joint research on teenage obesity undertaken by the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance at UCD and UCC1 has found that many Irish teenagers eat a nutrient-poor diet, that family influences on body weight of teenagers are substantial, and that there has been a significant increase in obesity since 19902. This study was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the Food Institutional Research Measure and co-funded by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Research on body size perception and eating behaviour - Teenage eating behaviour and body size perception in Ireland - presented by Dr Áine McConnon of the UCD Institute of Food and Health found that dieting for weight loss in teenagers is prevalent. Dr McConnon found that parental weight-related attitudes and behaviours influence young people’s eating and exercise habits.
This was borne out by four findings:
Dr McConnon found that 37% of Irish teenagers have tried to lose weight with girls (51%) twice as likely as boys (25%) to have attempted weight loss in the past, especially in the 15-17 year age group. The research also found that 48% of normal weight teens are dissatisfied with their weight, 60% of overweight teens would like to be lighter while 34% are happy with their weight, and 91% of obese teens would like to be lighter.
Dr Jennifer O’Neill, also of the UCD Institute of Food and Health looked at Obesity and Physical Activity in Irish Teens. Her research suggests that 1 in 5 Irish teens are either overweight or obese. She found that high computer game use may be linked with overweight and obesity in Irish teens. While it is encouraging that four out of five teens have a healthy weight, the researchers say the increase in overweight and obesity in this age group highlights the need to identify ways to help teenagers develop healthy eating and physical activity habits.
1 Dr. Janette Walton of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences in University College Cork presented data on The Diet of the Irish Teenager . She found that Irish teenagers consume mainly white bread, processed meats, drink mainly whole milk and beverages with a high sugar content. Irish teenagers do not eat enough fruit and vegetables, their main energy sources coming from bread and cereals, meats, confectionery snacks and biscuits, milk and dairy, potatoes and savouries. Fat and salt intake is too high, fibre intake is inadequate, and that girls are at risk of not getting enough iron, folate, calcium, and vitamin D.
2 The survey was undertaken between 2005 and 2008. The main phase of the fieldwork started in September 2005 and was completed in September 2006
