HSE attacked by its own obesity expert
‘No plan’ as numbers of overweight people soar
THE head of the HSE’s efforts to tackle obesity has rounded on the health service for what he said was a lack of proper plans for tackling the crisis.
It comes as the percentage of people classified as overweight or obese has risen to 62% of the population, up from 60%, in just two years.
The lack of any meaningful strategy to fight the problem was described as ‘appalling’ by anti-obesity campaigner Professor Donal O’Shea, who is also head of obesity management at the HSE.
He said: ‘The fact the levels are still that high and are increasing is a real concern. It’s also a real concern because there are still no active plans for dealing with it, it’s a disease.
‘I’m two years appointed into the post as HSE lead for obesity and all we have is a one-line statement in the HSE plan for treating obesity. It’s appalling.’
Professor O’Shea was speaking at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at Dublin’s RDS where there were projects on healthy eating.
He said: ‘I’m just looking for concrete plans. I’m meant to be the HSE lead for the area. We’ve brought them very clear plans but they just haven’t done anything about them.
‘Obesity shortens people’s lives, it makes people sicker for longer while they’re alive, there’s a cost implication in terms of medication.’
The number of obese or overweight people has risen by almost 100,000 from 2,914,200 people to 3,011,340, based on the latest population figure of 4,857,000 for the State.
A person is classified as overweight if their Body Mass Index exceeds 25 and obese if their BMI is 30 or higher.
Normal BMI is regarded as 1825 and it is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilos by their height in meters squared.
The level of binge drinking is also back on the increase rising after dipping slightly in 2016, CSO figures out yesterday also showed.
Some 39% of people aged over 15 binge drank on a regular basis in 2015. The figure fell to 37% in 2016 but was back up to 39% in 2017. Binge drinking is defined by health experts as consuming six or more standard drinks in one sitting – the equivalent of three or more pints of beer.
Alcohol Action Ireland said: ‘It shows the underlying trend in the consumption of alcohol is upwards.
‘We had a dip up until 2013 which was reflective of the economic depression we suffered.
‘Since 2013 it has slowly but surely increasing, the underlying trend is always upward.’
The availability of cheap drink was revealed in a recent price survey by Alcohol Action Ireland.
It found a woman’s low-risk alcohol limit, which is 11 standard drinks a week, can be purchased in an off-licence for less than €5.50. For men, the limit is 17 standard drinks, which can be bought for just €8.49.
The HSE has yet to comment.