THE Department of Health has admitted that despite six years of efforts there has been no change in significant change levels of obesity in Northern Ireland’s children and adults.
In the update to its ‘A Fitter Future for All 2012-2022’ the department conceded: “there has yet to be significant statistical change in the levels of overweight and obesity”.
The news comes as it emerged that a third of all adults in the UK routinely underestimate how many calories they consume.
Launched in March 2012, A Fitter Future for All was aimed at empowering people to make healthy choices, reduce the risk of overweight and obesity related diseases and improve health and wellbeing, by creating an environment that supports a physically active lifestyle and a healthy diet.
The report published this week covers the period June 2016 – June 2017, but commenting on it are at pain to avoid admitting that there hs been no real change.
Referring to this latest progress report Chief Medical Officer, Dr Michael McBride said: “It has long been acknowledged that reducing the levels of obesity and changing our lifestyles is a huge challenge for us all but that by working together and recognising the impact that this has on future generations, we can collectively make a difference.
“The negative impacts of overweight and obesity continue to threaten our population. Evidence suggests that being overweight or obese increases the risk of Type 2 Diabetes, some cancers and other serious health conditions. It is an issue that is increasingly influenced by what we buy and consume on a daily basis; and, the environment in which we live. It is no longer justifiable to think that tackling obesity is a standalone issue for the health and social care system but it is one which we must all take responsibility for.”
Dr McBride added: “A number of important outcomes have been achieved including; initiating a review of the current Chief Medical Officers Guidelines for Physical Activity; updating the Nutritional Standards for school meals; and, offering the Weigh to a Health Pregnancy (WTHP) programme to all pregnant women with a BMI over 40 – these are wide ranging measures and will have a positive impact on the health of our communities.”
Of the 50 current short term outcomes in the Framework, 88% are on track for delivery. Work will now begin to update and revise the short term outcomes for the final phase of the framework’s implementation from June 2019 to June 2022.
Mary Black, Assistant Director for Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement at the Public Health Agency, said: “We all have our part to play in promoting a healthy weight and tackling obesity. Organisations from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors are all working together to address the issue.
“The Regional Obesity Prevention Implementation Group contains a wide range of committed members who work together to develop and deliver programmes which contribute to the implementation of this Framework. Whilst the targets set out in the Framework to reduce levels of overweight and obesity remain a challenge, many lives have been positively influenced by the actions we have taken forward and the many programmes being delivered regionally and with local communities.”