Government must tackle lifestyle sickness

AS the national charity for heart disease and stroke, the Irish Heart Foundation fully supports the views of the Diabetes Federation of Ireland and Prof John Nolan of St James’s Hospitalurging the Government to take a preventative approach to combat the rise in diabetes and obesity (Irish Examiner, November 14).

Mortality rates from heart disease have dropped dramatically over the past 20 years, down from 54% in 1984 to 36% in 2005.

But while the number of deaths are falling, the prevalence of heart disease is growing as a result of increased life expectancy and the fact that more people are surviving the disease.

Management of chronic disease is fast becoming a major health issue for Ireland.

We are also seeing increasing levels of diabetes across the nation and a real possibility of increasing levels of heart disease in younger people.

Serious health problems which can be attributed to obesity include hypertension, diabetes, angina, heart attack and osteoarthritis.

It is estimated that 2,000 premature deaths annually are caused by obesity, and this is increasing.

These deaths are costing €4 billion annually.

More worrying still is the fact that one-in-five Irish children is either overweight or obese and this is estimated to be in the region of 320,000 children on the island as a whole.

The Government so far has failed fully to implement the obesity taskforce report. We cannot continue to ignore the nation’s biggest health problems. Giving up is not an option and we strongly urge the Government to prioritise the obesity taskforce report recommendations such as examining the impact of subsidies on fruit and vegetables.

The Irish Heart Foundation is a major advocate of healthy living. While our work is vital and has an impact, as a charity we do not have the power to implement policy changes. This is where the Government and Department of Health need to play a leading role in effecting real changes that will improve our lives.

Right now the environment is right and the marketplace is full of opportunities to eat energy-dense foods.

This is combined with the fact that not enough Irish people are taking adequate exercise.

We need to increase awareness and educate the nation about diet and physical activity but, more importantly, we need to see changes at policy level that will encourage the public to lead healthier lives.

Michael O’Shea

Chief Executive

Irish Heart Foundation

4 Clyde Road

Ballsbridge

Dublin 4