The Government has been urged to face the growing problems of childhood obesity and inactivity by investing in a pilot interactive games scheme in the west.
Leading NUI Galway fitness expert James O'Toole, who heads the national Outreach Programme for Inactivity in Children, warned yesterday that Ireland was in the same situation the US was in five years ago in terms of its obesity problem.
"We are facing an obesity epidemic on par with America in this country," he said.
"Awareness and education are key to fighting this problem now and we are actively taking these steps as much as possible across the west and northwest regions to drive this message home to parents and teachers alike."
Mr O'Toole was hosting a meeting of the programme at NUI Galway yesterday to highlight the growing problems of childhood obesity and inactivity.
More than 40 local children were invited to the university sports centre to take part in a trial with two interactive games - Cybex Trazer and Sportwall - as part of an effort to get inactive children involved in movement through functional games in a friendly, non-competitive environment.
Mr O'Toole said that a significant number of the games had been installed in YMCAs and schools across the US, where they were providing fun and functional fitness activities for children of all ages and skill levels.
"Besides improving their movement skills and functional cardiovascular efficiency, users report that the use of interactive, virtual-reality products like Trazer and Sportwall significantly improve both the participation and retention rates of young people who don't normally participate in traditional exercise and sports programmes."
He is urging the Government to invest €64,000 as a pilot scheme in two Cybex Trazer and Sportwall machines in the west to engage children in physical activity at school.
Tommy Ward (12) from Scoil Bhríde in Shantalla said the Cybex Trazer was "really cool, great fun" and that the children in his school would love one.
The Trazer was also the firm favourite with Shauna Walsh and Rebecca Burke, both also 12 and from from Scoil Bhríde. They said they would much rather play the game than do a PE class.
The meeting was attended by Minister for State Frank Fahey, NUIG sports director Tony Regan, the captain of the 2006 All-Ireland club winning Salthill/ Knocknacarra football team, Maurice Sheridan, and parents and representatives from the FAI, IRFU and GAA.
