Fat of the land
Four in 10 irish too heavy with a quarter obese
FOUR out of 10 Irish people are overweight and 23% are obese, a grim report has revealed.
And perhaps most worryingly the problem seems to start young with a third of those aged 15 to 24 carrying too much fat.
The statistics come from the annual Healthy Ireland survey, which looks at 7,500 people age 15 and above.
It found 39% of us are overweight and 35% eat at least one unhealthy food such as sweets, cakes, biscuits, salted snacks, pastries or fried foods every day.
Added to this, 73% eat fewer than the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day while one in six takes sugary drinks daily.
Kate O’flaherty, head of health and wellbeing at the Department of Health, said: “Researchers in the HSE and academic organisations are using the data to look at themes such as social inequalities in obesity and smoking rates, and to examine links between positive health behaviours and mental wellbeing.
“In addition, Healthy Ireland survey findings will help us to measure risk factor trends over time and the impact that policy implementation is having on supporting people to make healthier choices.”
And when it comes to lifestyle choices Irish people could be doing much more to improve their health.
The study also found 22% of people are still smoking – down 1% on last year.
In the 15 to 24 category 19% are smokers and more than half binge drink.
But 84% of Irish people say their health is very good despite 30% indicating they have a long-standing illness or condition.
Health Promotion Minister Catherine Byrne said: “While there are some positive results, such as the drop in smoking rate, it is also clear that there is no room for complacency.
“The solutions require response from all of Government and all of society.”
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