‘We’re becoming a nation of obese couch potatoes’

IRELAND is rapidly turning into a nation of overweight couch potatoes, an alarming new study shows.

Despite complaints the pressures of a fast moving, modern lifestyle doesn’t allow time for exercise, one-in-five people say if they had an extra hour free in the day they would spend it watching television.

According to a survey commissioned by the Department of Health, an overwhelming seven out of 10 people think the country has a major problem with obesity.