Health Minister launches physical activity consultation

Health Minister Angela Smith has launched a three-month consultation exercise on a new Physical Activity Strategy and Action Plan for Northern Ireland.

Physical inactivity is a major contributor to diseases of the circulatory system, including ischaemic heart disease, which are responsible for 40% of deaths and a total loss of over 21,000 years of life in Northern Ireland.

Commenting on the document, the Minister said: "Physical inactivity is an underlying cause of death, disease and disability. It is important that each of us recognises the risks associated with lack of exercise and that we make the relatively small changes necessary to eliminate those risks."

"I am very concerned about the problems we are facing in Northern Ireland, in common with the rest of the UK, through a combination of lack of exercise and a poor diet."

A 2001 survey classified 25% of the population here as physically inactive or sedentary. The number of people who are obese in Northern Ireland is increasing with almost half of all men and more than one third of women overweight.

Among 12-year-olds in Northern Ireland, one in three boys and one in four girls carry excess weight.

(MB)