Almost 60% of Irish teenagers eat fast food at least once a week, while around one-third eat lots of junk food and consume soft drinks every day, a new survey has shown.

The survey of 501 teenagers revealed that despite this high consumption of unhealthy foods, just 12% felt that they were not eating sensibly.

Meanwhile, just half of teenagers were managing to eat the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables every day.

When it came to exercise, just one in three were aware that they were supposed to be undertaking 60 minutes of physical activity per day, while only one in five knew that they should be getting two hours of PE in school every week.

Males tended to be more physically active than girls, with 46% of teenage boys undertaking activities on a daily basis, compared to 39% of teenage girls.

Overall, three in four boys and just over half of girls played some kind of team sport. However many girls (39%) admitted that walking was their main source of physical activity.

The survey was released to coincide with the launch of the second year of the Pumped Schools' Video Awards, which aim to encourage young people to get creative and produce a 90-second video on a heart health topic.

The awards are in association with the Irish Heart Foundations and the Federation of Irish Sport and are supported by Bayer.

"These findings show that teenagers have a lot on their plate not only at school but literally as well, because many are eating too much unhealthy food. The high consumption of fast food and soft drinks - both high in calories - is of particular concern, especially as one in five young people is overweight or obese," commented Maureen Mulvihill of the Irish Heart Foundation.

Speaking about the awards, Ireland and Leinster rugby player, Fergus McFadden, pointed out that ‘no one is better placed to communicate health messages to their peers in a language that they understand, and in a way that will have real ‘staying' power, than teenagers themselves - they are their own best role models'.

"That's why the Pumped Schools' Video Awards are a really good opportunity to get teens thinking at an early stage in their lives about the science behind heart health, researching it for themselves and seeing how even small lifestyle changes can have real long-term health benefits," he said.

The winning school will get €5,000, with each team member also winning a tablet. There are also a number of runner-up prizes. Just one entry per school is allowed and entrants must be under 16. For more information, click here