‘Poor layout of communities contributing to obesity’

The layout of Ireland’s towns and villages must be overhauled if the country is to adequately tackle the growing obesity crisis.

The claim was made by health experts at a major conference at University College Cork (UCC) which heard that existing community structures are creating serious medical problems for people in later life.

According to the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, less than one in three people currently meet the minimum weekly physical-activity levels for a healthy body.