Seanad debates

Thursday, 29 November 2012

3:40 pm

Photo of Deirdre CluneDeirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
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The issue of people who are overweight and obese is one we need to keep to the fore. Yesterday a report by Professor Ivan Perry of UCC was reported in the media. A study found the fact that people are obese or overweight is costing the country ¤1.1 billion every year. That cost is based on scientific evidence, so we should take it very seriously, and that is not to mention the effect on the health of these individuals and their demeanour. I am sure their mental health suffers in many cases as well.

It is estimated in the report that two thirds of the cost is as a result of absenteeism and lost productivity due to back pain and the remainder is as a result cost of health care, be it GP, drug costs, physiotherapy and everything else that goes with being overweight and having certain conditions such as heart disease, colorectal and other types of cancer, type 2 diabetes and stroke. We must be clear about how we will tackle this issue. We must target children and young people to ensure these problems are not carried by them into adulthood. The Growing Up in Ireland report on Ireland's 13 year olds was published today and it found a quarter of those surveyed are overweight or obese. It also found almost 40% of girls were trying to lose weight.

Obesity has a huge impact on children so we must tackle it now in order that it does not become an even greater problem later in life. We must encourage good habits in terms of eating and exercise. Young people who are overweight are also at risk of developing asthma and diabetes.

We are doing a lot in schools about exercise and while it is unfair to target schools all the time, the children are in a learning environment there and it is where they form the habit of exercising with their peers. The environment in schools, however, with tuck shops and vending machines filled with crisps, sweets and sugary drinks, was mentioned in the report. We should consider banning the sale of junk food in schools. Children are in school to learn and making such foods available is not conducive to developing healthy eating or the habit of exercise.

We must also talk about labelling in supermarkets. Tesco and Lidl are considering this but in Britain, all supermarkets are introducing the traffic light system of labelling, whereby a red traffic light means a food should be avoided, amber means it should be eaten in moderation and green means it can be freely consumed. That would assist people to make healthy choices for their eating and shopping habits.

There are many other areas where action can be taken. The Restaurants Association of Ireland is putting calorific values on menus, although some restaurants are resistant to the idea, which I understand because anyone who has attended a cookery course with Darina Allen knows that she considers full fat butter and full fat cream as essential for flavour. We must be aware, however, of the effect of such ingredients on health and the development of habits that young people will continue in adulthood.

In the United States, the First Lady, Michelle Obama, is playing a strong role in tackling obesity. As a Government, we should be developing policies that keep this issue to the fore to ensure the message gets through and we develop a healthier population.

3:50 pm

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I was at a conference on older people recently where I heard that a study in Sweden has outlined that poor nutrition will kill more and cost more than obesity. Eating the wrong types of food will have a more detrimental effect. We sometimes forget that. Equally, the Growing Up in Ireland study told us about far more than just the issue of obesity. It also told us our 13 year olds are happy and we must look at that. There is always a contradiction between our children being healthy and active and being careful that they do not obsess about body image, which brings with it even more complications and difficulties. It is not as straightforward as we sometimes think. We must be balanced and careful.

The Minister for Health received the report The Cost of Overweight and Obesity on the Island of Ireland, funded by safefood Ireland and conducted by UCC. This study provides reliable figures for the annual economic cost of weight related ill health in Ireland. Initial findings estimate the annual cost to be ¤1.13 billion. The direct health care costs are ¤398 million, or 35% of total costs. In addition to this, two thirds of the economic costs were indirect costs in reduced or lost productivity and absenteeism, and these amounted to ¤728 million.

These figures show a compelling case for obesity prevention based on changes in our food environment and physical activity levels. Obesity is the major health problem in Ireland, with studies showing that two out of every three adults, one in four primary school children and one in five teenagers are overweight or obese. Of particular concern is that in children as young as three years of age, one in four are overweight or obese.

Since entering office, the Minister for Health has made overweight and obesity a public health priority and has established a special action group on obesity. The group comprises key stakeholders and is chaired by the Department of Health. The Department recognises that no single initiative will reverse this growing trend but a combination of measures should make a difference. Currently, the special action group is concentrating on measures such as calorie posting in restaurants. The Minister has met food outlets and held a national consultation, and a tool to support food outlets in working out the calorie content of meals is being developed and a tax on sugar-sweetened drinkshas been introduced. The grouphas carried out a health impact assessment and presented to the Minister a proposal based on the evidence for consideration. Action has been taken on the marketing of food and drinks to childrenand the groupis working with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on new codes to restrict marketing of high fat, high salt and high sugar foods and drinks until 7 p.m. There has been action on the supply of healthy food products in vending machines. On the detection and treatment of obesity, three specialist obesity treatment centres have been established. The group is promoting the healthy eating and physical activity guidelines that were published this year and considering a physical activity plan.

The group is taking a cross-sectoral approach to help halt the rise in overweight and obesity. Of major importance is the new health and well-being framework for Ireland which will be launched as part of Ireland's Presidency of the EU. This is an overarching strategic framework for sustained action to improve the health and well-being of the nation and will have as its key goals an increase in the number of Irish people who are healthy at all stages of life, the reduction of health inequalities, the protection of the public from threats to health and
well-being, and the creation of an environment where every sector of society can play its part. This new framework will further prioritise the importance of preventing overweight and obesity in the Irish population, particularly in children. I thank the Senator for raising the matter.

Photo of Deirdre CluneDeirdre Clune (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for that comprehensive reply. As she pointed out, the Minister is working on this. I accept the point that this is about striking a balance and I certainly agree that we should avoid concentrating on body image and focus instead on the health and well-being of individuals, especially the long-term consequences of carrying weight. We must tackle this for people's benefit as well as saving the State money.

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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It always strikes me as obscene the fact that one of the biggest killers in the developed world will be obesity and one of the biggest killers in the underdeveloped world will be lack of food and clean water.

We have been obsessed with food. Alan Shortt once said that when he watched television at night, after putting down the remote control, he felt like licking his fingers because there were so many food programmes on television. The media has a part to play in our obsession with food and the eating habits of the nation.