07/10/2015

60% Of Irish People Are Overweight – Healthy Ireland

60% of people in Ireland are still overweight, according to the latest Healthy Ireland survey from the Department of Health.

However, the surveyed showed obesity has fallen since the last survey, conducted in 2007, while fewer than one in five people smoke.

Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, said: "There have been some positive changes since the SLAN survey in 2007 including a further drop in smoking rates, and the incidence of overweight has actually levelled off, while levels of regular exercise are rising.

"However, we still face some serious risks to the future health of the nation including alcohol misuse or harmful drinking patterns, and the significant number of people who still do not take enough exercise or who are overweight.

"This survey gives us some really useful information and will be repeated every year. What you don't measure, you can't improve. It will feed into new policies on obesity, sexual health, and physical activity, and further legislation to control tobacco use.

"And we will shortly publish the Public Health Alcohol Bill. But it's important to recognise that society as a whole needs to work with the Government to address these issues. And Healthy Ireland provides the perfect framework for that task."

(CD/JP)

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