Ireland football manager Martin O’Neill has said parents have a responsibility to make sure their kids are active.

The World Health Organisation has warned Ireland may become the ‘fat man of Europe’ by 2030.

Ireland was also ranked in the middle of 38 countries presenting their report cards at the International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health in Bangkok, Thailand, this week. Ten physical activity barometers were examined, including participation in organised sport, watching television, and walking to school.

Ireland’s D grade reflected data from five large studies across the island showing that around 25% of young people are active for at least an hour every day.

Martin O’Neill said there were different kinds of excercise that all kids could enjoy to improve their health, and added the onus was on parents to make sure their kids are healthy.

`”I never felt it was a chore to go out and stay active and fit,” he said. “My parents would send you out, sometimes even at the expense of homework which I claimed I had done.

“Parents have some sort of respinsibility to get their kids out and be active.”