Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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177. To ask the Minister for Health in view of the World Health Organization report on obesity levels, the measures he is introducing to deal with this public health problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19121/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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We know that 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 are overweight or obese. One in five adults are physically inactive and only 25 per cent of children meet the guidelines on physical activity. The report in question arises from a recent presentation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the European Congress on Obesity in Prague. At this meeting the WHO presented the results of their obesity forecasting modelling project.

This looked at data from 53 European countries comparing recorded data from 2010 and projected figures for 2030. 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 per cent. The WHO states that by 2030 Europe will face an obesity crisis of “enormous proportions”. The WHO caution that the data needs to be interpreted with extreme caution as it is a forecasting exercise. The authors of the report call for Governments to do more to restrict unhealthy food marketing, inform consumers about what’s in food and make healthy food more affordable.

In response to the obesity epidemic, my Department established a Special Action Group on Obesity 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.

In addition, Ireland proposed the development of an EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity and is now leading part of this work. A National Physical Activity Plan will soon be launched by Healthy Ireland and the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills have also been working to ensure a more co-ordinated approach and infrastructure to support schools and teachers to address health and wellbeing issues arising in schools.

In recognition of the obesity challenge, I have prioritised the development of an Obesity Policy and Action Plan under the Healthy Ireland Framework as a 2015 major project. The plan will run from 2015 to 2025. A national consultation day was held last week with approximately 150 key stakeholders. Further consultation days are planned for children and healthcare professionals. This action plan will be finalised this year and brought to government for approval. 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.