Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 64: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in implementing the recommendations of the Task Force on Obesity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10440/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity was published in 2005. An Inter-sectoral Group on Obesity, comprising relevant Government Departments and key stakeholders was established early in 2009 to oversee and monitor implementation of its recommendations. The Inter-sectoral Group published a report in April 2009, detailing progress on each of the Taskforce recommendations.

The report provided 93 recommendations for action aimed at six sectors. These included: 5 aimed at high level government 22 for the education sector 13 that targeted the social and community sector 24 for the health sector

9 for food, commodities, production and supply

20 for those responsible for the physical environment

The examination by the Group showed that significant progress has been made on implementation of over 30% of these recommendations while partial implementation has occurred in another third and action is still progressing on 25%.

However 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.These included measures to increase physical activity among children; continued awareness programmes on the dangers of excessive consumption of foods high in fat, sugar and salt; increased control on advertising and marketing of food and drinks aimed at children; and improved training for health professionals in obesity prevention and diagnosing and counselling those at risk of obesity.

The work of the Inter-sectoral Group on Obesity is currently being examined in the context of a wider review of the policy in relation to lifestyle-related illnesses to which obesity is a major contributory factor.