A poor diet is blamed for the growing rate of childhood obesity

A taskforce has been set up to tackle the 'worrying levels' of childhood obesity in Northern Ireland.

It comes as research reveals one in five boys and one in four girls at primary one level in the province are overweight or obese.

The initiative - Fit Futures: Focus on Food, Activity and Young People - aims to develop ideas for improving the health and well-being of children and young people.

The government scheme aims to encourage a "positive focus on healthy eating and active living and to discourage overemphasis on body image".

Health Minister Angela Smith, who announced the initiative on Tuesday, said: "Obesity is one of the most serious challenges to the long term health of our population.

Balanced diet

"Being overweight or obese increases the risk of Northern Ireland's biggest killer diseases - coronary heart disease and cancer - as well as diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis.

"It can also have very direct impacts on the self-esteem and emotional well-being of children and young people."

The taskforce will concentrate on tackling the underlying causes of obesity, namely inappropriate eating patterns and food intake and insufficient physical activity.

The Fit Futures initiative will involve speaking to more than 300 children and young people and a similar number of parents, about what can be done to improve activity levels and eating habits.