A new report has found that when it comes to overweight children, many Irish parents are in denial or simply unaware that there is an issue with their child.

According to the report, Bodyweight Perceptions on the Island of Ireland, which was compiled by Safefood, the problem of overweight and obesity has increased significantly in recent years.

Among children, rates of obesity are estimated to have tripled over the last two decades and worldwide, an estimated 43 million children under the age of five are already overweight or obese.

While previous evidence suggests that children are unlikely to perceive themselves as overweight, this report shows that these perceptions also extend to many parents.

It found that 54% of parents of overweight primary school children believed their child's weight was ‘about right for their height'.

Meanwhile, 75% of the parents of overweight teenagers also felt that their child's weight was ‘fine'.

However, adults are not just in denial about their children's weight. The report, which analysed studies of weight and perception in Ireland over the last 10 years, also noted that one in three overweight adults do not consider themselves to have a weight problem.

"Not recognising our own weight status, or indeed our children's weight status, represents a major barrier to making any future changes to our lifestyle. Being overweight is now the norm and as a society we must recognise our body weight before we can realistically begin to make positive changes, especially for our children," commented Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan of Safefood.

She acknowledged that weight is an ‘extremely sensitive and personal issue' for many people and there are many challenges to dealing with it.

"One positive change which would help to remove the stigma is to have our body weight status measured routinely. Among children, assessing body weight should be viewed in the same way as hearing or sight tests, as a measure of a child's developmental progress and not in any way as a criticism of parenting," Dr Foley-Nolan explained.

She added that more awareness of this issue is needed, particularly as overweight and obesity can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.