Operation Transformation campaign finds 66% are overweight

Over two-thirds of people who participated in the RTÉ Operation Transformation’s ‘Know Your Numbers’ campaign were found to be either overweight or obese.

Of the thousands of people assessed last weekend, 34% had a healthy weight, 39% were overweight, and 27% were obese.

While 39% of women had a normal weight; 37% were overweight and 22% obese.

Just 17% of men were found to have a normal weight; 47% were overweight and 34% obese.

And, worryingly, 30% of 18 to 24 year olds were overweight, with 12% obese. Of those aged 35 to 44, 39% were overweight and 27% obese.

A total of 670 pharmacies around the country provided free body mass index (BMI) and waist measurements last Saturday morning as part of the campaign.

Many people also visited the Operation Transformation team at seven pop-up measurement centres around the country.

The findings, based on the results for 2,500 people, were surprising and very worrying, said Irish Pharmacy Union president, Kathy Maher.

“We really have to look at our health as a nation,” Ms Maher told RTÉ’s John Murray yesterday.

BMI is calculated using a person’s height and weight. It is recommended women have a maximum waist measurement of 33 inches (80cms) and men have a maximum measurement of 37 inches (94cms).

About 80% of those assessed were women, and just 31% had a healthy waist measurement of 32 inches or less — 67% had a waist measurement greater than 32 inches.

While 35% of men had a healthy waist measurement of 37 inches or less, 64% had a waist measurement of more than 38 inches.

Ms Maher said many men were deluding themselves about their waistline.

“A lot of the men would say to me: ‘Well, my jeans are only 38 inches’, but their waist circumference would have been between 42 and 44 inches. I had to remind them that their jeans did not exactly sit around their waist. These were men in their 30s and 40s.”

Ms Maher said a waist circumference was a good indicator of whether someone was going to develop high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancers.

“While our statistics are based on 2,500 people, many more people attended so the number of people involved was huge.”

Pharmacists gave lifestyle advice to 44% of those assessed while just over one in four (26%) were also advised to return for a follow-up check; 6% were referred to their GP, and a small number (1%) were referred directly to their GP.

“We want people to keep an eye on their numbers, to make sure they are going in the right direction and follow the plans made for the Operation Transformation leaders.

“They can also pop into their local pharmacies to have their numbers checked and see how they are doing.”

www.rte.ie/ot/