Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2014
155. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health his views on the recommendations of the new Royal College of Physicians of Ireland policy statement on obesity here; the measures he will implement on the matter of obesity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38879/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland for their policy statement and for the important contribution they have made in tackling the obesity challenge.
Tackling overweight and obesity remains a public health priority for my Department. It is recognised that alone no single initiative will reverse the growing obesity trend, but a combination of measures should make a difference. The Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO) is concentrating on a range of measures such as calorie posting in restaurants, a choice of healthy foods and drinks in vending machines in post-primary schools; food labelling options; Treatment Algorithms for adults and children and opportunistic screening and monitoring for earlier detection of overweight and obesity in children. The Department of Health has worked with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, with regard to the marketing of food and drink to children for the revised Children's Code to restrict marketing of high fat, high salt and high sugar foods and drinks. The current Food Pyramid guidelines on carbohydrates and fat are being reviewed by the Health Research Board and results will be presented to the Special Action Group on Obesity later this month for comment and modification, if necessary.
An EU-wide Joint Action to facilitate implementation of The EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity will commence in March 2015 and end in early 2017. Ireland will lead on a Work Package which focuses on 'The cost of Childhood Obesity in Europe and forecasting the increase in the burden of disease arising from childhood obesity in the EU by 2020'. A Report and Recommendations of the Special Action Group on Obesity Working Group to reduce consumption of high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks from the Top Shelf of the Food Pyramid has been prepared and is being considered under the Healthy Ireland framework. Work is now ongoing on progressing the Recommendations.
A new Obesity Policy in now under development and will be finalised in 2015.
