Dr. Orla Walsh:

There is a huge genetic component to the disease of obesity. Obesity is a complex, chronic health condition. That needs to be noted. We are speaking a lot about prevention, but we are not speaking about the treatment for it. Genetic factors play a huge role in it. We understand the hormone levels in our body more and more now, and there are now better treatments available for obesity. There is a greater understanding of that. We are now living in an environment that is completely obesogenic, everywhere we go. I hate taking my four-year-old shopping because it causes a huge amount of stress. I am saying that, and I am in a privileged position. The children and families who are attending our clinics are coming from completely socially deprived areas. Every day is a struggle, it is hard for them to get to the clinic, it might take them multiple buses and they have to take time off work. We need to be thinking about all of these things, when we are trying to improve both the prevention and treatment of obesity.