Obesity epidemic ‘costs over €1.1bn a year’

A “fat tax” might be the only way to curb the country’s growing waistline, a report has suggested.

The report by University College Cork, for Safefood, estimated that obesity costs the Republic €1.13bn per year and the North €510m — almost 3% of total health expenditure in both jurisdictions.

Lead researcher Anne Dee said the estimate was conservative because a range of weight-related diseases, including osteoarthritis and pregnancy-related conditions, were not specifically included.