Rising numbers of kids in homeless or Direct Provision accommodation are being treated for morbid obesity.
The country’s only specialist clinic in Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Temple Street in Dublin has seen an increase in numbers from vulnerable families.
It is estimated there are around 70,000 Irish kids affected by obesity which is linked to a number of serious conditions.
Dr Grace O’Malley, lead for the obesity service in CHI, said they are seeing more overweight children who are suffering from the stress of homelessness.
She added: “It makes things far more challenging because whatever plan we put in place everything is against the families to try and implement it, if they have no accommodation.
“I can empirically say it has definitely increased over the past two or three years and this observation should be confirmed through a formal study.”
Dr O’Malley, who also leads a research team at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, said it is extremely difficult for parents to feed kids healthy food in cramped hotel rooms with little or no cooking facilities.
She added: “From the homelessness aspect, it’s just being able to have access to cook and store food or to sit at a table together.
"That stability and continuity is vital to support health and development.”
