A fifth of Irish teenagers are overweight, according to a new study.

ESRI figures, which are part of a Growing Up In Ireland Survey, show that 20% of 17- and 18-year-olds are heavier than they should be, while 8% are classed as obese.

If you are overweight at 13, you are also more likely to have problems with your weight later in life.

Dr Aisling Murray is a Research Officer for the study: “The tendency is for girls to have more of an issue, we do ask them questions like how their weight makes them feel about themselves.

“More girls say that it affects their feelings about themselves and it is interesting we see more boys at 17 taking more exercise.”