Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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484. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the recent figures from the World Health Organisation that predict an obesity crisis here by 2030, with female obesity alone expected to rise from 23% to 57%; if he is satisfied that his Department is taking adequate steps to address this issue; if he will provide a progress update on the consultation process regarding the forthcoming action plan on obesity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18525/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The World Health Organisation presented the results of their WHO Modelling Obesity Project at the European Congress on Obesity meeting on 6 May 2015.

This looks at data from 53 European countries comparing recorded data from 2010 and projected figures for 2013. It is reported that the proportion of overweight and obesity will increase in Irish men from 74 and 26 percent to 89 and 48 percent. For women the increase in obesity will be from 23 to 57 percent. The WHO states that by 2030 Europe will face an obesity crisis of “enormous proportions”. The WHO caution that the data need to be interpreted with extreme caution as it is a forecasting exercise.

In Ireland the level of obesity has doubled over the past 20 years. Currently two thirds of adults are overweight or obese and one in four children is overweight or obese. One in five adults is physically inactive and only 25 percent of children meet the guidelines on physical activity.

The Special Action Group on Obesity was established by the Minister for Health in 2011 and is working on a range of measures including:

- The development of revised Healthy Eating Guidelines

- Media campaigns to promote awareness on healthy eating

- Treatment Guidelines for overweight and obesity

- Calorie Posting in restaurants

- Developing a code of practice for marketing in the non-broadcast media

The Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills have also been working together on embedding and integrating health and wellbeing into the education system. Specifically, the two Departments have been working to ensure a more co-ordinated approach and infrastructure, involving the HSE, to support schools and teachers to address health and wellbeing issues arising in schools.

New Obesity Policy and Action Plan

In recognition of the obesity challenge, the Department has commenced work on an Obesity policy and Action Plan under the Healthy Ireland Framework. The plan will run from 2015 to 2025. Significant progress has already been made in implementing Healthy Ireland. It is only through taking this “whole of Government” and “whole of society” approach to improving health and wellbeing, that we can collectively address the environmental conditions leading to many health problems.

A national consultation day was held in Farmleigh on April 27 involving approximately 150 key stakeholders with representation from Government Departments, County Councils, Industry, university departments and the education sector. Further consultation days are planned for children and healthcare professionals.

It is intended to develop an action plan not only for the health system but also to propose options for other sectors which play a key role in preventing overweight and obesity. This action plan will be finalised this year and brought to government for approval.

In addition, due to concerns about low levels of physical activity in Ireland, the Department of Health and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and a number of other key stakeholders, are currently developing a National Physical Activity Plan which is expected be launched later in the year.