NI Obesity Action 'Essential'

Urgent action is necessary to curb Northern Ireland's spiraling obesity levels, a government report has warned.

The Stormont Health Committee report was welcomed by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH), which estimates Northern Ireland will see a 26% rise in Type 2 diabetic patients by 2015.

Government officials have called on all sectors to become involved in the fight against rising obesity.

IPH Chief Executive Dr Jane Wilde said the impact of obesity is "alarming".

"IPH estimates that between 2005 and 2015 there will be a 26% increase in the number of people with Type 2 diabetes in Northern Ireland. If current trends continue, an estimated 84,226 people will have adult diabetes by 2015," she said.

Social, environmental and economic costs of obesity are detailed in the new report, which suggests 450 deaths per year can be attributed to people being overweight.

According to the report, obesity contributes to £14.2m in lost productivity and a £90m cost to health and social care.

Dr Wilde welcomed the report’s recommendations for a multi-agency approach to dealing with the problem.

"We need a wider view which recognises the importance of the physical environment, transport issues, the role of the food sector," she said.

"An important way of encouraging physical activity is through changing our built environment so that planners and planning applications should give priority to people’s exercise.

"Transport planners should give priority to pedestrians and cyclists by widening pavements, and introducing more cycle lanes."

Dr Wilde claimed providing information to the public on diet and exercise does not go far enough.

"We need to make sure that healthy food is available, accessible and affordable."

According to the report, causes of obesity are linked to poverty, deprivation and social exclusion.

Dr Wilde said during difficult economic times, inequalities often widen and the burden of obesity is likely to shift towards the less well-off.

"An IPH food poverty research project found that around 20% of all households reported that they had reduced their food spending in order to pay other household bills."

She concluded: "The Committee's report gives us an indication that our politicians recognise the scale and the need to act. Action is essential. We now have a golden opportunity to address full-on the obesity issue before it is too late."

(PR/BMcC)