Irish smaller and fatter but still looking on the bright side

IRISH people have become smaller and fatter in the past three years, gaining weight despite 25% being on a diet, according to the latest survey of food and obesity.

On average each person gained 1.6kg — the third highest in Europe — and shrank in height by 0.6cm.

One-third of Irish people now say they are too heavy. But they are the most optimistic in the EU about the state of their health, with almost 90% saying it is either good or very good.