Our obesity problem is a major health issue

WHEN it comes to obesity in this country, the statistics make for very grim reading indeed.

Latest official figures indicate that six in 10 adults and one in four children in Ireland are now either overweight or obese. Even taking the adults alone, the annual cost of the problem is estimated at more than €1.1billion.

It is impossible to exaggerate the threat posed to our national wellbeing. People carrying excess body fat are more likely to develop a range of serious medical conditions, including heart disease, bowel and kidney cancer, stroke and type-2 diabetes.

Although 12 months have passed since the establishment of a national 10-year Action Plan on Obesity, the implementation group has not even met yet.

The Department of Health was quoted at the weekend as saying the first meeting will take place ‘in the coming weeks’, and that a publicity campaign on child obesity will be launched by Safefood and the HSE by the end of the year.

Given that the nation’s minors are among those at the highest risk, there can be no excuse for any further delay. Research published in 2014 showed that our youngsters were the fifth most obese out of 28 European countries.

Shortly afterwards, respected medics claimed that the life expectancy of Irish children was five years shorter than that of their parents. Lack of exercise, weight gain and high intakes of sugar were blamed as the key factors.

This newspaper has previously called for a Government campaign targeted at ensuring youngsters receive a nutritional and balanced diet. Only through giving families the necessary information can we hope to save future generations from the misery – and the very real dangers – of obesity.

But, of course, good habits aren’t just learnt at home. The education system also has an important role to play.

Against that backdrop, it is certainly encouraging to hear that three-quarters of schools have a healthy-eating ethos.

And that, for the avoidance of doubt, means two things in our schools: a ban on vending machines and severe restrictions on junk food being sold in canteens.