A Fianna Fail TD has called for children to be regularly weighed at school in order to tackle the ongoing issue of childhood obesity.
In a move that has been questioned by many Fianna Fail’s spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs Anne Rabbitte TD, has claimed that weighing children at school could become the norm and give more information on reagards to childhood obesity.
Ms Rabbitte who was speaking at a Committee on Children and Youth Affairs, said a database is need to monitor the situation and by weighing children in school the problem could be addressed properly.
Despite many criticisms of the idea, Ms Rabbitte said by introducing such a system would eliminate the stigmatisation i.e bullying aspect attached with being overweight and it would effectively become part of the norm.
The Fianna Fail TD also argued that the weighing of children under five is currently done by GPs, but she believes the weighing of children should continue on a regular basis after that age in order to collect accurate data.
Ms Rabbitte’s comments come after recent figures show that Ireland ranks as one of the lowest countries when it comes to tackling childhood obesity.