GROWING UP IN IRELANDGROWING UP IN IRELANDNational Longitudinal Study of ChildrenNational Longitudinal Study of ChildrenThe Health of 9-Year-OldsThe Health of 9-Year-Olds

Visit our website at www.growingup.ie or email us at growingup@esri.ie

BACKGROUND

These are major public health issues.Overall, 74% of nine-year-old children were classified as non-overweight, 19% as overweight and 7% as obese.Girls were more likely than boys to be classified as overweight (22% compared to 17%) and obese (8% compared to 6%).

Growing Up in Ireland is the National Longitudinal Study of Children. The study aims to track, from infancy through to adolescence, the lives of two representative cohorts of children in Ireland – a nine-month cohort of 11,200 infants and a nine-year cohort of 8,500 children, their families and teachers.  

Parent’s were asked to rate their child’s health in the past year. Health status is generally reported as being good, but there are substantial social gradients.•99% of parents indicated that their child was in good health; 74% rated their child as very healthy and 25% as healthy, but with a few minor problems.•Social gradients in health status are clear. 76% of children from Professional/Managerial groups were rated as being very healthy compared with 69% of children from Semi-skilled/Unskilled backgrounds.

•11% of 9-year-olds had a chronic illness or disability. •These were more concentrated among children from lower socio-economic backgrounds – 10% of children from Professional/Managerial families compared with 14% among children from Unskilled Manual Families.•7% of children who had a chronic illness or disability were described by their parents as being severely hampered by it in their daily activities.•A small number of illnesses accounted for the most of the chronic illness. 47% are accounted for by respiratory illnesses, 17% by mental and behavioural conditions while skin conditions (5%) were next most common.

OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY

CHRONIC ILLNESS

GENERAL HEALTH

76

23

1

74

25

2

69

29

20

102030405060708090

Very Healthy Healthy, but a fewminor problems

Sometimes quiteill/Almost alw ays

unw ell

Primary Caregiver’s perception of the study child’s health status

% of 9-year-olds

Professional/Managerial Other Non-manual/Skilled Manual Semi-skilled/Unskilled Manual

1

2

2

3

3

3

4

4

4

4

5

19

46

0 10 20 30 40 50

Not classified

Eye and Adnexa

Endocrine andmetabolic

Musculoskeletal

Genitourinary

Congenital andchromosomal

Skin

Circulatory

Ear and mastoid

Digestive

Nervous system

Mental andbehavioural

Respiratory

% of 9-year-olds

78

18

4

73

20

8

67

22

11

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Non-overw eight Overw eight Obese

Child's BMI classification

% of 9-year-olds

Professional/Managerial Other Non-manual/Skilled manual Semi-skilled/Unskilled Manual

Figure 3: Percentage of children within each BMI category by household social class

Figure 2: Main chronic illness types

Figure 1: Parent's rating of children's health, by household social class

GROWING UP IN IRELANDGROWING UP IN IRELANDNational Longitudinal Study of ChildrenNational Longitudinal Study of ChildrenThe Health of 9-Year-OldsThe Health of 9-Year-Olds

Visit our website at www.growingup.ie or email us at growingup@esri.ie

BACKGROUND

These are major public health issues.Overall, 74% of nine-year-old children were classified as non-overweight, 19% as overweight and 7% as obese.Girls were more likely than boys to be classified as overweight (22% compared to 17%) and obese (8% compared to 6%).

Growing Up in Ireland is the National Longitudinal Study of Children. The study aims to track, from infancy through to adolescence, the lives of two representative cohorts of children in Ireland – a nine-month cohort of 11,200 infants and a nine-year cohort of 8,500 children, their families and teachers.  

Parent’s were asked to rate their child’s health in the past year. Health status is generally reported as being good, but there are substantial social gradients.•99% of parents indicated that their child was in good health; 74% rated their child as very healthy and 25% as healthy, but with a few minor problems.•Social gradients in health status are clear. 76% of children from Professional/Managerial groups were rated as being very healthy compared with 69% of children from Semi-skilled/Unskilled backgrounds.

•11% of 9-year-olds had a chronic illness or disability. •These were more concentrated among children from lower socio-economic backgrounds – 10% of children from Professional/Managerial families compared with 14% among children from Unskilled Manual Families.•7% of children who had a chronic illness or disability were described by their parents as being severely hampered by it in their daily activities.•A small number of illnesses accounted for the most of the chronic illness. 47% are accounted for by respiratory illnesses, 17% by mental and behavioural conditions while skin conditions (5%) were next most common.

OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY

CHRONIC ILLNESS

GENERAL HEALTH

76

23

1

74

25

2

69

29

20

102030405060708090

Very Healthy Healthy, but a fewminor problems

Sometimes quiteill/Almost alw ays

unw ell

Primary Caregiver’s perception of the study child’s health status

% of 9-year-olds

Professional/Managerial Other Non-manual/Skilled Manual Semi-skilled/Unskilled Manual

1

2

2

3

3

3

4

4

4

4

5

19

46

0 10 20 30 40 50

Not classified

Eye and Adnexa

Endocrine andmetabolic

Musculoskeletal

Genitourinary

Congenital andchromosomal

Skin

Circulatory

Ear and mastoid

Digestive

Nervous system

Mental andbehavioural

Respiratory

% of 9-year-olds

78

18

4

73

20

8

67

22

11

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Non-overw eight Overw eight Obese

Child's BMI classification

% of 9-year-olds

Professional/Managerial Other Non-manual/Skilled manual Semi-skilled/Unskilled Manual

Figure 3: Percentage of children within each BMI category by household social class

Figure 2: Main chronic illness types

Figure 1: Parent's rating of children's health, by household social class

GROWING UP IN IRELANDGROWING UP IN IRELANDNational Longitudinal Study of ChildrenNational Longitudinal Study of ChildrenThe Health of 9-Year-OldsThe Health of 9-Year-Olds

Visit our website at www.growingup.ie or email us at growingup@esri.ie

BACKGROUND

These are major public health issues.Overall, 74% of nine-year-old children were classified as non-overweight, 19% as overweight and 7% as obese.Girls were more likely than boys to be classified as overweight (22% compared to 17%) and obese (8% compared to 6%).

Growing Up in Ireland is the National Longitudinal Study of Children. The study aims to track, from infancy through to adolescence, the lives of two representative cohorts of children in Ireland – a nine-month cohort of 11,200 infants and a nine-year cohort of 8,500 children, their families and teachers.  

Parent’s were asked to rate their child’s health in the past year. Health status is generally reported as being good, but there are substantial social gradients.•99% of parents indicated that their child was in good health; 74% rated their child as very healthy and 25% as healthy, but with a few minor problems.•Social gradients in health status are clear. 76% of children from Professional/Managerial groups were rated as being very healthy compared with 69% of children from Semi-skilled/Unskilled backgrounds.

•11% of 9-year-olds had a chronic illness or disability. •These were more concentrated among children from lower socio-economic backgrounds – 10% of children from Professional/Managerial families compared with 14% among children from Unskilled Manual Families.•7% of children who had a chronic illness or disability were described by their parents as being severely hampered by it in their daily activities.•A small number of illnesses accounted for the most of the chronic illness. 47% are accounted for by respiratory illnesses, 17% by mental and behavioural conditions while skin conditions (5%) were next most common.

OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY

CHRONIC ILLNESS

GENERAL HEALTH

76

23

1

74

25

2

69

29

20

102030405060708090

Very Healthy Healthy, but a fewminor problems

Sometimes quiteill/Almost alw ays

unw ell

Primary Caregiver’s perception of the study child’s health status

% of 9-year-olds

Professional/Managerial Other Non-manual/Skilled Manual Semi-skilled/Unskilled Manual

1

2

2

3

3

3

4

4

4

4

5

19

46

0 10 20 30 40 50

Not classified

Eye and Adnexa

Endocrine andmetabolic

Musculoskeletal

Genitourinary

Congenital andchromosomal

Skin

Circulatory

Ear and mastoid

Digestive

Nervous system

Mental andbehavioural

Respiratory

% of 9-year-olds

78

18

4

73

20

8

67

22

11

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Non-overw eight Overw eight Obese

Child's BMI classification

% of 9-year-olds

Professional/Managerial Other Non-manual/Skilled manual Semi-skilled/Unskilled Manual

Figure 3: Percentage of children within each BMI category by household social class

Figure 2: Main chronic illness types

Figure 1: Parent's rating of children's health, by household social class

GROWING UP IN IRELANDGROWING UP IN IRELANDNational Longitudinal Study of ChildrenNational Longitudinal Study of ChildrenThe Health of 9-Year-OldsThe Health of 9-Year-Olds

Visit our website at www.growingup.ie or email us at growingup@esri.ie

BACKGROUND

These are major public health issues.Overall, 74% of nine-year-old children were classified as non-overweight, 19% as overweight and 7% as obese.Girls were more likely than boys to be classified as overweight (22% compared to 17%) and obese (8% compared to 6%).

Growing Up in Ireland is the National Longitudinal Study of Children. The study aims to track, from infancy through to adolescence, the lives of two representative cohorts of children in Ireland – a nine-month cohort of 11,200 infants and a nine-year cohort of 8,500 children, their families and teachers.  

Parent’s were asked to rate their child’s health in the past year. Health status is generally reported as being good, but there are substantial social gradients.•99% of parents indicated that their child was in good health; 74% rated their child as very healthy and 25% as healthy, but with a few minor problems.•Social gradients in health status are clear. 76% of children from Professional/Managerial groups were rated as being very healthy compared with 69% of children from Semi-skilled/Unskilled backgrounds.

•11% of 9-year-olds had a chronic illness or disability. •These were more concentrated among children from lower socio-economic backgrounds – 10% of children from Professional/Managerial families compared with 14% among children from Unskilled Manual Families.•7% of children who had a chronic illness or disability were described by their parents as being severely hampered by it in their daily activities.•A small number of illnesses accounted for the most of the chronic illness. 47% are accounted for by respiratory illnesses, 17% by mental and behavioural conditions while skin conditions (5%) were next most common.

OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY

CHRONIC ILLNESS

GENERAL HEALTH

76

23

1

74

25

2

69

29

20

102030405060708090

Very Healthy Healthy, but a fewminor problems

Sometimes quiteill/Almost alw ays

unw ell

Primary Caregiver’s perception of the study child’s health status

% of 9-year-olds

Professional/Managerial Other Non-manual/Skilled Manual Semi-skilled/Unskilled Manual

1

2

2

3

3

3

4

4

4

4

5

19

46

0 10 20 30 40 50

Not classified

Eye and Adnexa

Endocrine andmetabolic

Musculoskeletal

Genitourinary

Congenital andchromosomal

Skin

Circulatory

Ear and mastoid

Digestive

Nervous system

Mental andbehavioural

Respiratory

% of 9-year-olds

78

18

4

73

20

8

67

22

11

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Non-overw eight Overw eight Obese

Child's BMI classification

% of 9-year-olds

Professional/Managerial Other Non-manual/Skilled manual Semi-skilled/Unskilled Manual

Figure 3: Percentage of children within each BMI category by household social class

Figure 2: Main chronic illness types

Figure 1: Parent's rating of children's health, by household social class