One in six school children is classified as overweight or obese - however levels have stabilised in recent years, especially in girls.
That's according to a new national nutrition survey of primary school children between the ages of 5 and 12 in Ireland.
This study was carried out by a team of researchers in University College Cork, Cork Institute of Technology, University College Dublin and Technological University Dublin.
It found that the majority of children in Ireland, or 78% are within the normal weight range.
16% of children are overweight or obese, down from 25% in the last survey which took place between 2003 and 2004.
It also found that obesity levels have stabilised especially in girls going from 30% in the last survey to 19%.
Intakes of fruit and vegetables are low - children are eating about 3 servings a day, well below the recommended 5-7-a-day.
They survey also found that 69% of children met the recommendation of at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity.
