Warning over obese children's life-expectancy

Obese Irish children could grow up with shorter life-expectancies than their parents, an Oireachtas Committee heard today.

The National Taskforce on Obesity told the Health & Children Committee that 39% of the population was overweight, of which 18% were obese.

Taskforce chairman and former Olympic athlete John Treacy warned that the problem was a major threat to the health of the nation.

He told the all-party body that obesity rates were still growing by 1% each year.

“We have a problem, we need to be more proactive,” he said. “We need to stop the rise in obesity and reverse it.

“Joined up government is a key factor in combating obesity but it is also clear that the private sector has a critical role to play.

“This sector’s acknowledgement of its responsibilities is a crucial first step to effective action.”

Labour health spokesperson Liz McManus described obesity as a shocking problem.

“It is a betrayal of our children that obesity is taking a hold to such an extent.

“Life expectancy of obese children growing up may be shorter than their parents and this is unprecedented.”

A report produced last May by the Taskforce made 93 recommendations to change public attitudes and behaviour so the problem can be successfully resolved.

The Government allocated €3m in the 2006 Estimates to implement the proposals.

Mr Treacy added: “There can be no argument that the issue is now firmly on the political and social agenda. This is the first step towards changing attitudes and ultimately behaviours.”

The Irish Sports Council chief executive officer noted that government health campaigns were competing with robust food and drink advertising in Ireland which totalled €132m in 2003.

“We must acknowledge that it is extremely difficult for health promotion campaigns to counteract the impact of an annual advertising spend of that magnitude,” he said.

Independent TD Paudge Connolly commented: “In my experience food companies will only put on the shelf what will sell, not what is necessarily healthy or good for you.”

Mr Treacy said overweight and obese conditions can lead to major health problems like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, angina, heart attacks, osteoarthritis and psychosocial problems.

He noted that one in five Irish adults take no exercise and only 40% take enough to meet the World Health Organisation minimum standards.

He added:

:: Up to 300,000 children on the island of Ireland are overweight or obese.

:: Obesity also contributes to 2,000 deaths a year.

:: It incurs €30m health service costs

:: Leads to indirect costs of €4bn to the economy.

Mr Treacy called for schools to promote healthy eating and provide two hours of PE a week.

Up to 27% of second-level pupils get little or no sport, he noted.

“By increasing participation rates in physical activity in the population, sport can make its contribution to the battle against obesity.

“The top priority in the US health service was increasing physical activity. “I think that tells its own story.” he added.

He called on the public, private and community sectors to work in partnership to promote health eating and active living.

He said combating an overweight society must also begin by curbing an ’obesogenic’ environment and creating conditions where people can choose healthy eating and a physically-active lifestyle.