One in three primary school children from disadvantaged backgrounds eats fast food at least once a day compared with just one in 20 attending non-disadvantaged schools, a new survey has found.
In a sign that the Government faces an uphill struggle in attempting to tackle childhood obesity rates among children from disadvantaged backgrounds, nearly 40 per cent also estimate they eat chocolate, sweets or crisps more than once a day.
This is twice the figure for children from more well-off backgrounds.
Nearly a quarter spend more than three hours a day watching television, while one in five spends a similar amount of time playing computer games.
By comparison, one in 10 children from non-disadvantaged backgrounds spends more than three hours a day watching television, while just 3 per cent spend more than three hours playing computer games.
The survey was conducted by the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), in conjunction with The Irish Times, among 686 primary school students, aged between 10 and 12, at four Dublin schools.
Approximately half (323) of the children are enrolled in a school which is officially designated as disadvantaged.
Some of the findings of the survey will provide the Government with grounds for optimism, however.
A total of 86 per cent of children enrolled in disadvantaged schools said they ate fruit at least once a day, while 92 per cent of those in non-disadvantaged schools responded similarly. The INTO says this can in part be explained by recent school-based initiatives to provide children from disadvantaged backgrounds with free fruit.
When it comes to physical activity, three-quarters of all respondents said they spent at least one hour a day playing sport during the week. This would include school-based activities, and is broadly the same irrespective of the student's background.
At weekends, students reported similar levels of participation in sport, with 77 per cent saying they spend at least an hour engaged in physical activity. In addition 94 per cent also said they enjoyed PE class.
In a worrying sign for the GAA, by far the most popular sport among students in disadvantaged schools is soccer (47 per cent), with slightly more students indicating they play basketball (16 per cent) than GAA sports (15 per cent).
According to recent reports, obesity rates in Irish children have tripled over the past 10 years. Other studies suggest our obesity rates and incidence of diabetes are near those of the US.
Last year, a survey of senior infants in primary schools across Leitrim and part of Cavan found that a quarter were either overweight or obese.
Some 8 per cent of children aged between 5 and 7 were actually obese.
Commenting on the survey, INTO general secretary John Carr said it illustrated the importance of two subjects othe revised primary school curriculum - PE and social personal and health education.
But he said the Department of Education should examine a "clear mismatch" between policy and provision, and allow the most disadvantaged schools to provide all students with a hot nutritious lunch daily.
Mr Carr added: "The department provides for curricular time for physical education but refuses to resource it properly in terms of buildings and equipment. This is not good enough."