One in five young people in north Dublin is overweight or obese, and more than half take insufficient physical exercise, according to a new survey.
Young women take significantly less physical exercise and have lower levels of aerobic fitness than boys, the survey of 15- to 17-year-olds for the Irish Heart Foundation established.
The IHF expressed alarm yesterday about the findings of the survey and warned of a growing threat of greater heart disease among young people.
"We are in no doubt that the positive trends in reducing coronary heart disease of the last two decades will quickly be reversed, and it is likely that some of today's parents will outlive their children," said IHF president Dr Will Fennell, speaking at a conference to announce the start of the Irish Heart Week.
More than 1,500 adolescents in north Dublin city and county participated in the study, carried out by Dublin City University researchers.
It found that 56 per cent of 15- to 17-year-olds did not meet minimum recommendations for physical activity, at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity for four or more days a week. This is less than the 65 per cent recorded last year in a similar survey of young people in the east coast area of Dublin and south Wicklow.
Some 20 per cent of boys and girls were overweight or obese, and half of these were not taking the minimum recommended amount of exercise.
A number of environmental factors may explain why girls take less exercise and are less fit, according to principal researcher Dr Catherine Woods. Boys' physical activity needs were well catered for as the facilities for the sports they enjoyed, such as Gaelic football, soccer and golf, were available cheaply in their area.
"However, activities that girls enjoyed, such as dance and gym, were not so accessible and affordable. Girls were also more likely to find their local environment less safe due to traffic and crime," she said.
Some 64 per cent of young people surveyed walk or cycle to school, far higher than the 39 per cent in last year's study in the east coast area.
However, while 18 per cent of boys cycle to school, just 1 per cent of girls do.
Boys and girls reported spending about three hours a day in sedentary leisure pursuits after school. Watching television, chatting with friends and listening to music were the most popular of these pursuits for both sexes.
Those who walked or cycled to school perceived their area as safer and more aesthetically pleasing than their inactive commuter counterparts.
Speaking at the conference, Minister of State at the Department of Health Seán Power expressed concern at the findings.
