Written answers

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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386. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the implementation of the 2005 obesity strategy, specifically elements that focus on obesity treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29766/17]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The 2005 strategy referred to by the deputy has largely been superseded by A Healthy Weight for Ireland- The National Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP). This was published last September. It is one of the key developments arising from Healthy Ireland, the framework for improving health and wellbeing across the population.

The OPAP covers a ten year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy.

I wish to emphasise that every sector of our society has a role in reducing the burden of obesity and the OPAP clearly acknowledges this.

The OPAP firstly prescribes 'Ten Steps Forward' to deal with obesity. Step 7 is: Develop a service model for specialist care for children and adults. There are a number of actions under this step including:

1. Plan for and support the development of specialist, consultant-led multidisciplinary care, based on the chosen model of care and the RCPI report, for adults on an equitable geographic basis (one within each hospital group) and one for children at national level;

2. develop and implement integrated clinical care models for adults and children with appropriate clinical care pathways for all patients;

3. develop standards, clinical guidelines and quality assurance programmes for obesity and weight management services in the health sector.

The appointment of a National Clinical Lead for Obesity in the HSE is among the priority actions recommended. The National Clinical Lead will be responsible for providing among other things, a model of care for children and adults and overseeing its implementation. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the HSE is in the process of appointing a National clinical Lead for Obesity.

The OPAP includes a number of other priority actions including:

- Implementing a 'whole of school' approach to healthy lifestyle programmes which includes nutrition, physical activity and exercise, smoking, alcohol and mental wellbeing;

- agreeing food reformulation targets with the food industry;

- developing a code of practice for food and drinks promotion, marketing, sponsorship and product placement;

- developing a communications strategy to increase knowledge among the public of being a healthy weight and to stimulate health behaviour change;

- developing proposals for a National Nutrition Policy and Action Plan;

- developing legislation for calorie posting to support people in making healthy choices;

- implementing the National Physical Activity Plan;

- developing proposals on evidence-based fiscal measures such as a levy on sugar-sweetened drinks;

- developing research in the area.

I am pleased to advise the deputy that The Healthy Eating/Food Pyramid Guidelines have been revised and updated by a multi-stakeholder Working Group led by my Department. These were launched in December 2016 as the Healthy Food for Life initiative. A Food Reformulation Working Group is being established to reduce the sugar, fat and salt content of foods and beverages, in line with the EU Food Reformulation Project. The development of legislation on calorie posting is also underway.

A Working Group has been established to develop a voluntary Code of Practice on Food Advertising, Promotion and Marketing including retail product placement and sponsorship. My Department has also worked with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) on the marketing of food and drink to children; this arises in the context of the revised Children’s Code to restrict marketing of high fat, high salt and high sugar foods and drinks. My Department will make a submission to the BAI in 2017 on the new code.

The HSE has advised that currently programmes for treatment of obesity include a Weight Management Service in St. Columcille’s Hospital , Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin and a regional bariatric service for patients with severe and complicated obesity at the Saolta University Health Care Group. There is also a programme for children carried out in Temple Street Hospital called W82GO. It is a 12-month family-based obesity treatment programme for children and teenagers, which provides families with health, nutrition, self-esteem, family communication and activity guidance along with support in a safe environment so that families can achieve the healthiest lifestyle for them. The treatment follows best practice and is multidisciplinary. Before starting the programme, the child is reviewed by a paediatrician, paediatric dietician, paediatric physiotherapist and paediatric psychologist. The child completes an exercise test to measure fitness and has baseline blood tests which assess their metabolic health and identifies how at risk they are for obesity-related conditions. Following the initial appointment, families are then invited onto the programme.

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