The latest findings from the 'Growing Up in Ireland' survey show that 20% of five-year-old children are overweight or obese.
The study, based on interviews with the parents of more than 11,000 children, found that calorie intake was closely linked with a child's socio-economic background.
It was also linked with the amount of time they spent in front of TV or computer screens.
The survey also revealed that more than two-thirds of families with young children are finding it difficult to make ends meet.
