Weight loss: Obesity levels in the Irish population now stand at a "worrying" 13 per cent, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said yesterday.
Rates have increased by 3 per cent over the past four years and the Minister said getting them back down was an issue which would have to get priority. He said the Department of Health was developing a national programme to encourage greater physical activity among all age groups.
Obesity, he added, was associated with illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.
Mr Martin was speaking at the launch of The National Health & Lifestyles Surveys which compared changes in the population's health and eating patterns, amongst other issues, since 1998. It found consumption of fried foods continued to rise among adults but was particularly high among younger men and women who had not finished second-level.
It also found fruit consumption has declined sharply - by almost 50 per cent - among school-going children. Vegetable consumption has also declined among children, but not to the same extent.
However, an increased number of adults reported eating the recommended number of four or more portions of fruit and/or vegetables daily.
Some 69 per cent of adults are now doing so, up from 61 per cent in 1998.
Overall, 34 per cent of adults reported being overweight, up 2 per cent since 1998. Turning to children, some 15 per cent said they never had a breakfast during the week and 8 per cent never had a breakfast at weekends. And some 7 per cent of 10 to 11-year-old girls and boys said they were on weight reducing diets.
In the 12 to 14-year-old age group, 18 per cent of girls and 16 per cent of boys said they needed to lose weight.
The surveys also looked at breast-feeding rates and general health. Some 37 per cent of women reported having breast-fed their children.
The Department of Health had set a 50 per cent target for breast-feeding rates by the year 2000. Highest breast-feeding rates were found to be among women with a higher level of education who were over 35.
When asked about general health issues, 55 per cent of the population rated their health as very good or excellent compared to 49 per cent in 1998. Among children, 86 per cent rated their health as very good or excellent.