Politicians Slim Down To 'Stop the Spread'

A cross-party group of MLAs have signed up to an eight-week programme to lose some weight and improve their lifestyles.

The initiative was organised by safefood, the body responsible for promoting healthy eating and food safety, and forms part a major two-year, all-island awareness campaign called 'Stop the Spread', which urges people to measure their waist to see if they are overweight.

At present, almost 60% of adults in Northern Ireland are carrying excess weight.

The Assembly group, which includes Jim Wells of the DUP, Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew and the UUP's Basil McCrea, are among the first MLAs to put their names forward in a bid to raise awareness of the serious health epidemic associated with being overweight.

Michelle Gildernew, Chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly Health Committee, said: "Obesity and excess body weight is a significant public health issue in the six counties today. Politicians, as well as the public, need to be aware of the dangers associated with being overweight, including the risk of long-term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

"Achieving or maintaining a healthy weight should be a long-term goal and not just about fad diets. By coming together as a group and with one another's support, we can work together towards a common aim - to lose weight and become more aware of our diet and physical activity."

Jim Wells, Deputy Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, said: "As politicians, we can all play our part in promoting public health in Northern Ireland, including addressing the issue of weight and this starts at our own table. We urge every adult in Northern Ireland to wrap a tape around their waist and find out how they measure up."

The promoter, safefood is asking adults to measure their waist and know what their true waist size is - having a waist size greater than 32 inches for a woman or 37 inches for a man is a clear indication that a person is carrying excess weight.

"Working long hours, the stress of balancing a job with finding time to fit in be active and eating at irregular times are all issues facing many people right across society today," safefood's Director of Human Health and Nutrition, Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, said.

"It's wonderful to see this group of well-known faces in Northern Ireland politics agreeing to participate.

"Not only will this group hopefully lose weight and become healthier, they are sending out the message to everyone that reaching a healthy weight is extremely important and achievable.

"With almost two in three adults in Northern Ireland overweight or obese, many people battle with weight loss and being overweight can increase the risk of common diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers, in addition to psychological issues," she added.

The campaign is a two-year, all-island initiative by safefood and comprises television and radio advertising. Thousands of free measuring tapes will also be made available over the next few weeks.

(BMcC/GK)