Dieting trends

General

Dieting amongst schoolchildren is more prevalent in Ireland than it is in the Netherlands. Callaghan (2010) reported in the international study Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (10-17yrs) that 13.2% of Irish children said they were on a diet (in this case dieting refers to when children reported they were on a diet or trying to lose weight). In a comparison of children of 15 years across 40 countries, 14% of said they were dieting in Ireland compared to 6% in the Netherlands.

In a qualitative study amongst 124 female adolescents of 15-16 years of age, conducted by Mooney et al., 2009, it was found that the different methods of dieting were used, including Weight Watchers and Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution. Meal skipping was also a common eating habit used by female adolescents. It was also found that celebrities have a significant influence on the dietary habits of adolescent girls.

RTE’s (Ireland’s national public service broadcaster) Operation Transformation is one the latest trends to catch on in Ireland in relation to changing one’s lifestyle with particular emphasis on weight loss. This programme has been running for the last 6 years and a new one is currently running for 2014. It is a cross-media (radio, web and television) health and fitness programme, which follows the progress of 6 contestants as they change their lifestyle and try to lose weight. Activities such as a 5km run are held around the country in association with the organization Safefood which promotes safe and healthy eating in Ireland in which the general public can participate. Aoife Hearne, a Dietician from the INDI (Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute) has been selected as an expert for the 2014 series of Operation Transformation.  The series has proven very popular in the past with approximately 569,700 television viewers and 332,000 radio listeners in 2011.

Nutrition & Health related Apps

There are a number of apps on the market which are being promoted by Get Active Ireland; an initiative of the Health Service Executive, the department of Health & Children and the Irish Sports Council which was set up to encourage people to become more physically active. The CalorieCounter by MyNetDiary is listed as a popular app for monitoring calorie intake.

Nutrition & Health related websites

The INDI (Irish Nutrition & Dietetics Institute) and Safefood (an organization set up as part of the British Irish Agreement to promote awareness on food safety and nutrition issues on the island of Ireland) set up a website called Weigh2live to give people on the island of Ireland free and independent advice on weight loss.

The FSAI (Food Safety Authority of Ireland) is an organization under the governance of the Minister for Health & Children in Ireland. Its role is to ensure that food produced, distributed of marketed in the Republic of Ireland meets with the required safe and hygiene regulations. They are also dedicated to public health protection and consumer interests in the area of food safety and hygiene.

Nutrition & Health related Twitter feeds

The Twitter feed from The Nutrition Society provides useful information and news on topics related to nutrition. It is the biggest learned society for nutrition in Europe and is highly regarded in the scientific community. The society also has an Irish section. It’s Twitter feed is available at @NutritionSoc.

Other organisations previously mentioned with Twitter feeds include the Food Safety Authority of Ireland at @FSAIinfo, an Bord Bia @Bordbia and Safefood @safefood_eu.

Sources: Callaghan, M. & The HBSC Ireland Team Food Safety Authority of  Ireland, Get Ireland Active,  Irish Medical Organisation,  Mooney,E., Farley,H. and Strugnell.,C.,  Raidió Teilifís Éireann, The Nutrition Society, Weigh2live