Analysis: Rising obesity levels stand out as cause for most concern in the latest lifestyle surveys, writes Dr Muiris Houston, Medical Correspondent
The latest results from the SLÁN and HBSC lifestyle surveys and the National Nutrition Surveillance Centre annual report illustrate both the successes and failures of public health initiatives in the Republic. They also offer some fascinating insights into regional health behaviour differences.
Obesity levels have increased by 3 per cent since the last survey in 1998. This is bad news: it means that an additional 120,000 (3 per cent of four million) people are now at risk of premature diabetes, stroke and heart disease.
The finding, along with that showing a 2 per cent increase in those who are above their ideal weight, but not yet obese, means we have in our collective laps an unexploded time-bomb of ill health.
Dr Pat Wall, Professor of Food Safety at UCD, said recently that obesity was our most blatantly visible, yet most neglected, public health problem. Its potential economic costs and health service pressures are undoubtedly enormous and have been confirmed by the latest findings.
On a more positive note the rate of cigarette-smoking in some areas is even lower than the national average of 27 per cent. Among younger people there has been a reduction in smoking among 15-17 year-old girls in most health board areas.
The positive influence of the cardiovascular strategy can be seen in the greater number of women who have had recent blood pressure checks across all health boards. In addition, more men and women reported having had a cholesterol check in the past year compared with four years ago.
Seat-belt use has increased nationally for boys and girls, according to the HBSC survey, reflecting the major road safety campaigns since 1998 and the recent introduction of penalty points.
Probably the most fascinating figures to emerge in yesterday's reports were those reflecting regional variations.
In general, the research shows people living within the three catchment areas of the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) fare worse than the rest of the population. The highest rate of cannabis/marijuana use, at 16 per cent, is in the coastal strip from Balbriggan down to Arklow. The proportion of people abusing these drugs in the rest of the State is 7 per cent.
The highest rate of alcohol consumption is in the ERHA, with 80 per cent of people drinking regularly in the three health boards.
Although there is no specific information on binge drinking in these figures, those in the Northern Area Health Board were more likely to be over the recommended weekly limit, suggesting an unhealthy consumption of alcohol by those in the greater Dublin area.
In fact, there is evidence from the survey results that we are seeing a divergence of the ERHA region from the rest of the country. An urban-sprawl effect is emerging, and it is this more than anything that adds a health argument to the Government's plans for decentralisation.
Within the ERHA, the Northern Area Health Board (NAHB) contains the greatest pockets of urban deprivation. Yesterday's findings confirm this disadvantage, with poor health habits such as smoking highest in the area. At 47 per cent the proportion of boys who had been "really drunk" was highest in the NAHB. Significantly the role of the media in supplying healthy lifestyle information was least important to those living in this area.
The usual socioeconomic gradient was present across most lifestyle measurements. Highest obesity levels, at 17 per cent of the population, were found in those in the lower social classes and in people with the lowest levels of education. Smoking rates are highest for those with medical cards.
While we as a nation are making good progress in some areas of health, we are failing badly in terms of obesity. More than any other factor, this has the potential to harm all age groups in all socioeconomic groups right across the State. Because it is a global problem, the Government must make tackling obesity a priority during its forthcoming EU presidency.