Campaigners welcome new guidelines for treating obesity

Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity chairwoman Susie Birney said the new guidelines will help patients talk to doctors. Picture: Abbie Trayler-Smith.

New clinical guidelines for treating obesity as a disease represent a turning point in the way the condition is managed, campaigners and health professionals have said.

An estimated 1m people are obese in Ireland, with Healthy Ireland data showing that 23% of all over-15s are obese while 37% are overweight.