Obesity: Goal to make healthier food and drink more affordable

According to official statistics, 65% of adults in Northern Ireland are classified as overweight or obese

Making healthier food and drink more affordable are among the aims of a 10-year plan to tackle obesity in Northern Ireland.

According to the Department of Health (DoH), almost two-thirds (65%) of adults in Northern Ireland are overweight or obese.

Among children and young people that figure is just over one in four.

A strategic framework focusing on levels of obesity was published at the end of 2023.

It is open for public consultation until 1 March.

Supporting people - May

Peter May, DoH permanent secretary, said the new plans intended to "take a whole-system" approach towards "supporting people to achieve a healthy weight".

According to the 10-year plan, obesity and associated issues costs £425m a year.

Health chiefs hope to reduce that figure with more emphasis on the marketing of healthier food and information alongside more "active travel" and sports participation.

The plan also aims to:

• Ensure there will be less promotion of food or drinks high in fat, salt or sugar

• Make healthy food more visible and accessible than less healthy options

• Offer consumers better and clearer information to help make informed choices

• Ensure there is greater consumption of healthier food, particularly fruit and vegetables

• Encourage more physical activity

"We must seek to reduce the gap in health outcomes between those in the most deprived areas and the Northern Ireland average," the report adds.

"Any changes will therefore need to be carefully balanced and timed."

Dr Hannah McCourt from the Public Health Agency

According to the report, more men (71%) than women (60%) in Northern Ireland are overweight or living with obesity - with rates highest in the most disadvantaged communities.

Just over half - 56% - of the population consume fewer than the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day - with men less likely than women to reach the recommended level.

Just over 90% of children aged 11 to 18 years of age eat fewer than the recommended five portions a day.

Diabetes diagnoses

The report also focuses on diabetes.

It says that diagnoses of the condition have almost doubled in the last 15 years in Northern Ireland "largely due to the number of cases of type two diabetes".

"There are currently 108,000 people living with diabetes in Northern Ireland," the report's authors said.

"Approximately 90% of people with diabetes will have type two diabetes.

"While there are several risk factors for type two diabetes, the biggest preventable risk factor is obesity."

Dr Hannah McCourt, from the Public Health Agency, said the consultation would give people a chance to share their views "on how the harm caused by obesity can be prevented".

"We would encourage everyone to get involved in this important piece of work," she added.