Children as young as 2 years of age are being treated for obesity at some Irish hospitals.

In one case - at Temple Street in Dublin - a child was treated who weighed almost double the average weight for their age group.

Obese children suffer many health problems - including sore joints - back and hip pain - and can often have difficulty breathing.

But there are also major psychological effects with many obese and overweight children reporting bullying, low self esteem and mental health problems.

Consultant Endocrinologist at Tallaght Hospital and member of the Irish Heart Foundation's Nutrition Council Professor Edna Roche says it's a huge problem: