One in four Irish children is overweight or obese.

HSE, Safefood and Healthy Ireland are launching a new public health campaign today to tackle the childhood obesity epidemic in Ireland.

They are hoping that by highlighting everyday habits associated with weight gain, the issue can be tackled by parents before there are long term health risks.

Cliodhna Foley Nolan, Director of Human Health At Safefood, says that we need to take action now:

The long term risks of diabetes, heart disease and cancer in obese children have been documented by health experts for years and today Health minister James Reilly will speak at the launch of the Safefood Childhood Obesity Campiagn.

According to Cliodhna Foley Nolan, Director Of Human Health at Safefood, says only one in five children is taking the recommended daily exercise: "Parents are misguided really... For example a 5-year-old should only have half an adult portion. The next issue is the level of inactivity children have in their play nowadays, only about one in five children are taking the recommended level of exercise a day."