NI Children Consume 16kg Of Treats Per Year

A child in Northern Ireland typically consumes over 16kg of treat foods per year, according to safefood.

The figures have been released as part of the group's campaign to take on childhood obesity.

It says that at present 20% of children’s daily calorie intake is from foods with little or no nutritional value.

Health Minister Edwin Poots said: "Treats can be fun for children and a short term distraction; however, if they are given on a daily basis they are no longer 'treats' they are part of the child’s diet and can then contribute to long term health risks. It can be hard to deny our children the things that they want, but by reducing the amount of sweet treats we give our children, or by making health foods treats too, we will be helping them to eat a more balanced diet, and this will improve their health and wellbeing as they grow into adults."

At present, approximately one in four primary school children are overweight or obese, according to safefood, while 6% of three-year-olds are obese.

Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director, Human Health & Nutrition, safefood said: "We are giving our children treat foods every day and in many cases, several times a day. These nutritionally poor foods, which are often referred to as 'empty calories', are given at the expense of nutritionally rich foods in our children's diets. Eating patterns developed in early childhood tend to last. Parents need to be aware of the health risks associated with over-consumption of these types of foods. It’s simply a matter of cutting down on treat foods to a more sensible level, basically, much smaller amounts and not every day."

(IT/CD)