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Results from a UCC study of school children in Mitchelstown and Cork city have revealed that 40% of participating children spent at least an hour playing on consoles on a school night. Photo: 123RF

Shocking results from a UCC study of school children in Mitchelstown and Cork city have revealed that a quarter of participating children were overweight, while 12% of parents reported that their children do not eat fruit.

The Cork Children's Lifestyle Study was conducted by UCC researchers between April 2012 and June 2013 with students in third and fourth class across 27 primary schools in Cork city and Mitchelstown.

It examined the different lifestyle choices between normal weight and obese children, looking at what they ate, their blood pressure, weight and activities.

The survey showed that 20% (one quarter) were overweight, while 5% were obese.

Three quarters of the children overall achieved the recommended 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily, but one in five children watched three or more hours of TV and 40% spent at least an hour playing on consoles on a school night.

Levels of inadequate sleep were also higher in children who were overweight or obese, but overall, nearly 10% of children were reported by their parents as not getting enough sleep.

Earlier this year, the schools in Mitchelstown launched a Walk On Wednesday initiative to promote healthier ways of getting to school in line with their Green Flag efforts and the study showed that only one in five children had an active way to get to school on a normal day.

Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day, yet 5% of children didn't eat breakfast before school and 15% would have a take away meal with the family more than once a week.

In addition to this, 12% of parents reported that their children don't eat fruit, while 13% don't eat vegetables.

8% of the children had high blood pressure, while this was doubled with the children who were overweight or obese. As well as this, half of the children had salt intakes well above the healthy levels.

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