Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle and Deputies for giving me this opportunity to make a statement on the subject of obesity. Obesity is a major public health problem internationally and is described by the World Health Organisation as a global epidemic. It is becoming one of the fastest growing health problems in Ireland. It is a complex condition that affects and threatens to overwhelm virtually all ages and socio-economic groups. Body weight reflects nutrition and physical activity and is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The prevalence of the state of being overweight and obese is high in Ireland and it is increasing.

The most recent survey of lifestyles, attitude and nutrition, the Slán 2007 report, indicated that 38% of the population in Ireland were overweight and further 23% were obese. Essentially, therefore, two-thirds of the population were either overweight or obese. These figures are broadly similar to rates in England and Scotland, and approximately 5% lower than rates in the USA. Findings from the Slán 2007 report also demonstrated that the trend in obesity was greatest in the lower socio-economic groups. The best estimate of change in adult body weight over time is a comparison of the Slán 2007 report with the 1999 North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey. This has indicated that the percentage of the population that is overweight or obese has risen from 57% to 61% in less than a decade.

Among children there is also evidence of increasing obesity. The latest data taken from the Irish component of the World Health Organisation childhood health growth surveillance initiative found that, overall, 26% of seven year old girls were overweight or obese with a corresponding figure of 18% for boys.

The Slán 2007 report also found evidence of over-consumption of foods high in fats and sugar, such as oils, butter, cakes and biscuits. On average, Irish adults consumed a little over seven daily servings of these types of food. According to the food pyramid, they should be used sparingly, that is, less than three servings daily.

People who are overweight or obese are at an increased risk of developing a chronic condition. For children who are overweight or obese before puberty, this reduces the average age at which non-communicable diseases become apparent and greatly increases the burden for individuals and the health services. While it must be acknowledged that there have been advances in recent years in tackling many chronic conditions, the fact that people are now living longer, together with the rise in obesity means that this progress is threatened. Information published by the Institute of Public Health earlier this year forecasts significant increases in coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes as a result of smoking and high levels of obesity across the island of Ireland. It is estimated that obesity is responsible for approximately 2,000 premature deaths every year in Ireland. This reflects a burden not only for individuals and their families but also for the health services.

The national task force on obesity was established by the Department of Health and Children in 2004 as a direct response to the emerging problem of overweight and obesity. Its report, Obesity — the Policy Challenges, was published in 2005. The report's recommendations related to actions across six broad areas, namely, high level government, education, social and community, health, food and the physical environment. The recommendations highlighted the need for cross collaboration between all key stakeholders and real practical engagement with both the public and the private sectors.

An inter-sectoral group on obesity, comprising relevant Government Departments and key stakeholders, was established early in 2009 to oversee and monitor implementation of the task force recommendations. The inter-sectoral group published a report in April 2009, detailing progress on each of the recommendations. The examination by the group showed that significant progress was made in the case of 32% of the recommendations, partial implementation has occurred on 31%, and action is progressing on a further 28%, leaving only 9% where little progress was reported.

The report indicated that while significant progress had been made across all sectors, there is a continuing need for concerted action in order to halt the rise in obesity. The group also gave some consideration to key priority areas for action in the short to medium term. The overriding concern of the group was the need for concerted Government action, driven at the highest level, to ensure a consistent approach to the implementation of the task force's recommendations. Among the areas highlighted were: measures to increase physical activity among children; continued awareness programmes about the dangers of excessive consumption of foods high in fat, sugar and salt; increased control of the advertising and marketing of food and drinks aimed at children; improved training for health professionals in obesity prevention; and diagnosis and counselling for those at risk of obesity.

Since the April 2009 report a significant development has been the publication of the first national guidelines on physical activity and the accompanying "Get Ireland Active" website. This was considered a priority because the recent Slán survey indicated that only 40% of adults undertook regular physical activity while one in five were physically inactive. In children, the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey found that more than half of primary school-aged children in Ireland did not do the recommended level of physical activity. Based on best international practice, the guidelines specify the recommended levels of daily physical activity for people of all ages and abilities. There are a number of further initiatives which are ongoing and contributing to actions on obesity. For example, healthy eating guidelines have been developed for pre-schools and primary schools, and nutrition guidelines for hospitals have also issued.

On food labelling, the issue of a mandatory nutrition declaration is currently being considered in the context of the EU proposal for regulation on the provision of food information to consumers. This would mean the food business operator displays the food's energy value, the amount of fat, saturates, carbohydrates, sugars, proteins and salt. On the issue of marketing, my Department is working with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on revising and strengthening the nutritional elements of the children's advertising code with a view to restricting the advertising and marketing of unhealthy food aimed at children. The Department is also developing a nutrition policy which is due to be completed this year.

These measures will help to reduce consumption of foods high in fat, sugar and salt, as well as increasing physical activity among the populations. With regard to the inter-sectoral group on obesity, this work is currently being examined in the context of a wider review of policy in regard to lifestyle-related illnesses, to which obesity is a major contributory factor. Elements of this work will be also progressed in the forthcoming policy on cardiovascular disease which will be completed shortly.

See this speech in context