There is strong support among the public for anti-obesity policies that focus on children, according to a new survey.

The research, by Safefood and the Health Research Board (HRB), shows that child-related interventions are the most strongly favoured among the public.

The survey found that 95% of people support the promotion of healthy eating in schools, while 91% felt the Government should provide resources to improve exercise and playground facilities, and 90% felt children should have to participate in a minimum of 30 minutes exercise a day while at school.

Eighty two per cent supported a ban on vending machines in all schools.

In addition, 92% felt all foods should be required to carry labels with calorie and nutrient information, and 87% felt that the food industry should cooperate in financing Government campaigns that promote health eating.

However, one in two people opposed the introduction of additional health charges for obese patients.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Mary McCarthy of the HRB said it was encouraging that levels of support in Ireland for many of the policy measures surveyed were higher when compared with similar population studies in the UK and Europe.

She noted that the 82% in favour of a school vending machine ban was over 20% higher than what was observed in a study across the UK and Italy.

Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan of Safefood said the research indicated that there was a great openness to change and an acceptance of public policy measures to address obesity whether that's in schools, in the pricing of foods or the provision of health information about foods.

The full research results are available here