Martin’s obesity policy needs ‘common sense’

LEADING figures from the two Government partners fell out yesterday over a matter of national interest — obesity.

While Minister for Health Micheál Martin launched a National Taskforce on Obesity yesterday, Progressive Democrats TD Fiona O’Malley said it was time for us all to stop blaming McDonald’s and take responsibility ourselves.

Either way, the issue is a real matter of public concern: one-in-five Irish boys and girls are now overweight and one in 20 is classified as obese.

“This finger-pointing and ‘it’s all McDonald’s fault and Big Macs made me fat,’ is just nonsense. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?” said Ms O’Malley.

While she welcomed the establishment of the National Taskforce on Obesity, she believed some common sense needed to be put back into the debate.

“Public awareness is fundamental in this issue, but so is a modicum of commonsense,” said Ms O’Malley, who is a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.

“Fat taxes, advertisement bans, getting rid of super-size portions, will not make a difference. We are all free individuals; we are all free to choose what to eat and in what quantity.”

Mr Martin, meanwhile, said obesity was becoming one of the fastest growing health problems in Ireland and it was not enough to rely on individuals to choose healthier lifestyles, particularly with so many other powerful factors affecting personal choices.

“Half the population is at an increased risk of developing a chronic health condition such as cardiovascular disease unless we make it easier for people to address their food and activity habits,” he said.

Mr Martin pointed out that the new taskforce, chaired by Olympic silver medallist and the head of the Irish Sports Council, John Treacy, will produce an obesity strategy document by the end of the year.

“We must attempt to alter the environmental factors which influence personal choices and behaviour,” said Mr Martin.

Mr Martin singled out obesity in childhood as a particular priority. The age of onset of obesity in children across the world is falling and a child is twice as likely to be an obese adult, if obese in childhood.

Mr Martin, however, ruled out the introduction of a fat tax on fast foods and snacks because of complications associated with competition rules and EU law.

He also pointed out that there were “very clear” difficulties involved in banning advertising aimed at children. There were limitations to what could be achieved in that area.

The health department’s chief medical officer, Dr James Kiely, said many parents found it difficult and, in some cases, impossible to do the right thing for their children, even though they wanted to and it was a serious issue that needed to be addressed.