Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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586. To ask the Minister for Health the annual cost of obesity to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15307/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Levels of overweight and obesity have increased in the last 20 years, with a rise from 51% in 1990 to 61% in 2011. The current figures for children are 25% of 3 year olds are overweight or obese.

Reliable contemporary and locally relevant figures for the annual, economiccost of weight-related ill health in the Republic of Ireland show that it costs 1.1 billion euros. My Department is developing a new obesity policy this year and this will have a significant impact on the obesity agenda and provide a framework for action based on an number of informants.