The Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) has welcomed the Assembly Health Committee’s obesity report, saying it provides a strong message that all sectors need to be involved if we are to stop the alarming rise in obesity.

IPH Chief Executive Dr Jane Wilde said: “The impact of obesity is alarming. It contributes to chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, some forms of cancer, and high blood pressure. For example, 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.  

“This wide-ranging and comprehensive report highlights the social, environmental and economic costs of obesity. The loss of productivity and the costs of care and treatment of obesity and related conditions have serious effects on the economy and threaten to engulf the health service. Obesity is estimated to cause 450 deaths per year, £14.2 million in lost productivity and a £90 million cost to health and social care. The responsibility for dealing with obesity goes far beyond the health sector.

“I welcome the report’s recommendations for a multi-agency approach. The Health Committee is in a strong position to act as an advocate with other Assembly Committees in implementing the findings of this report.”

Dr Wilde continued: “At the heart of the problem is the imbalance between what we take in and what we put out- in other words, the energy we expend. All the studies that have examined the issue from a scientific angle say that the problem will not simply be solved by individuals.  We need a wider view which recognises the importance of the physical environment, transport issues, the role of the food sector.

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.

Making sure people have useful information on diet and exercise is vital. But tackling obesity needs much more than this. It is simply inappropriate to give people information and fail to act to create the conditions in which they can take up this information. For example, we need to make sure that healthy food is available, accessible and affordable.  It is essential that the food industry acts responsibly on issues such as the composition of food products, sourcing and pricing of food, simpler, consistent food labelling across the island and controls on marketing in the media and in-store promotions – particularly those aimed at children - as well as the location and content of retail food outlets.

I reinforce the Committee’s recommendation of the need to take account of health inequalities. The causes of obesity are linked to poverty, deprivation and social exclusion. During these very difficult economic times, inequalities often widen and the burden of obesity is likely to shift towards the less well-off. With food being one of the most discretionary aspects of household budgets, obesity will only get worse unless we take special care to support the most vulnerable in these very difficult economic times. 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.”

Dr Wilde concluded “IPH highlighted the crucial need to bring research, policy and practice together to work out what we know and to identify any gaps. I am delighted that the Committee took up our suggestion of a round-table meeting between MLAs and leading academic researchers on obesity from the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

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.”