Graphic: Nation’s health improving slowly

What you don’t measure, you can’t improve, said Health Minister Leo Varadkar after a health-of-the-nation study revealed people spend around five hours a day sitting around.

But the Irish lifestyle is improving slowly, according to the Healthy Ireland report: Fewer than one in five smoke, obesity has levelled off, and more people are exercising regularly.

There are now more ex-smokers in Ireland than smokers. “I think that is evidence public health policies over time do make a big difference,” Mr Varadkar said.