Kids in primary and secondary schools should have access to a dietician, many parents in Ireland believe.

Quinn Healthcare released findings from a survey showing that 77 per cent of Irish adults think dietician visits should be compulsory for children who are overweight, Irish Health reports.

Occupational health advisor at Quinn Patricia Delaney stated that early intervention with overweight youngsters is "key" to helping them improve their health.

She commented that many parents may wish for their children to have access to professional advice because they "understand why kids shouldn't eat junk food regularly, but often feel guilt when their child refuses the healthy option".

The respondents who stated that obese kids should have regular visits to a dietician could be responding to the large number of children in the nation who are overweight, as one in ten youngsters between the ages of five and 12 in Ireland are classified as obese.

This comes after Tam Fry, spokesperson for the UK organisation National Obesity Forum, stated that education is essential to get kids to eat well, adding that fast food outlets that include calorie content information on their products will make people more conscious of what they put into their bodies.

Written by Donal Walsh

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