Obesity reaching US levels, survey reveals.

(From Irish Independent)

A QUARTER of teenagers aged 15 to 17 were found to be overweight or obese, in a major Irish study.

The results are so alarming that a leading expert has warned that Ireland is approachingUS levels of obesity - with potentially disastrous consequences.

The study which was funded by the East Coast Area Health Board and carried out bylecturers at Dublin City University (DCU) found that four out of five teenagers do not take regular exercise.

The physical activity levels among 939 teenagers - almost a third of whom attend fee-paying schools - were examined as part of the study which will be presented toHealth Minister …