IT EMERGED yesterday that, according to the most recent figures available, almost one 11-year-old in every four across Northern Ireland is officially regarded as obese.
In another development, it was reported that the number of people of all ages waiting for their first outpatient appointment here has jumped by more than 40 per cent during the past year.
The two statistics may not be direct-ly linked but taken together they provide firm evidence that the factors which make our society increasingly unhealthy need to be addressed.
The best place to start must surely be with our children, in an attempt to ensure that they do not drift into lifestyles which will inevitably cause them problems as they grow older.
Research carried out for the Institute of Education indicated that, including the obese, almost 40 per cent of all 11-year-olds here can be classified as overweight to some extent.
Some of these youngsters will suffer from specific conditions but it is clear that many others are simply failing to take enough exercise and are eating too much of the wrong foods.
In the not too distant past, pupils typically walked to primary school regardless of the time of year and spent much of their free time playing outside.
These days, a high percentage are driven to their classrooms and prefer to relax indoors with computers and mobile phones or sitting in front of the television.
We cannot turn back the clock and ignore social and technological changes, but parents are certainly capable of ensuring that their children are outdoors for at least part of the day.
While organised sport has an important role to play, visits to a playground or a swimming pool or at the very least a regular walk can make a considerable difference.
Some health issues are beyond our control but a sensible diet and, even more basically, fresh air can make an enormous difference to the long-term well-being of our young people.
However, the authorities also have a contribution to make and it can only be deeply concerning to learn that wider cutbacks are set to wipe out the special fund which helps our schools to provide nutritious meals and tackle dental decay.
This could well be a classic example of a measure which initially saves a very limited amount of money but has disastrous consequences further down the line and there is an over-whelming case for halting its implementation until further consultations can take place.