Martin warns on problem of obesity

OBESITY could become Ireland’s number one health problem within the next 10 years, the Minister for Health Micheál Martin said yesterday.

The Minister, launching a major public awareness campaign to highlight the increase of overweight and obesity in the Irish population, described the problem as having the potential to be the “major epidemic of the next decade.”

Mr Martin said the evidence showed that it already posed a risk in Irish society, with direct links to dramatic rises in the prevalence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“Today, whilst almost every second person is overweight, one in eight Irish people is obese, representing a 30% increase in reported obesity levels over the past four years,” he said.

He said the full picture on the extent of the problem in Ireland would become clear when the National Task Force on Obesity, chaired by Sports Council head John Treacy, published a comprehensive strategy on the issue. It is now expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Minister Martin was speaking at the launch of ‘Every Step Counts,’ a national public awareness campaign to tackle the issues of overweight and obesity. It will be run by his department’s Health Promotion Unit during September and October. It will combine information on healthy diet and exercise along with a full programme of activities for children and adults.

Referring to a South Eastern Health Board survey which showed that 8% of children were clinically obese, Mr Martin said it reflected the “worrying scale of childhood obesity throughout Ireland.”

Mr Martin urged people to cut back on fast food and take regular exercise.

“We need to support and make it easier for children to eat healthy foods and be more active. This should include educating and informing parents on positive lifestyle choices for their children,” he said.

Mr Treacy, who also attended the launch said: “We need to become aware of the problems of overweight and obesity. Put simply people need to exercise and people need to watch what they eat.

“It’s not all about going on crash diets. It’s about bringing a little bit of disciple into your life, walking to the shop rather than taking the car,” he said.

The Green Party welcomed the campaign but said the Government needed to apply “joined-up thinking” to tackle the current obesity epidemic.

Party health spokesperson John Gormley said that a broad campaign right across Government was needed.

“All the Government has to do is to follow some of the Green Party’s proposals such as banning junk food advertising to kids, ensuring that children have safer outdoor areas to play in and that they can walk and cycle to schools.

“Ireland has the highest car dependency ration in the world so it is not surprising that obesity levels are rising.”