Ireland has launched a nationwide public consultation to inform its next National Obesity Strategy, as the government confronts mounting economic costs and persistent public health challenges linked to overweight and obesity.
Announcing the initiative, Minister for Public Health, Well-being and the National Drugs Strategy, Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, invited contributions from individuals, healthcare professionals, community organisations, and advocacy groups. The consultation, open until 18 September, will shape the successor to ‘A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016–2025 (OPAP)’.
“Obesity is one of the most pressing public health challenges facing Ireland today, with over half of our adult population affected by overweight or obesity,” said Murnane O’Connor. “This is not just a personal health issue – it’s a national concern that impacts our healthcare system, our communities, and our future.”
The Minister reported that Ireland’s current obesity strategy has led to stabilised rates and the successful implementation of several key interventions. However, she stressed that further progress is necessary. To support the development of the next national obesity strategy, the government is gathering input from a broad cross-section of society, with the goal of ensuring that the forthcoming strategy is both inclusive and effective.
Economic impact
The urgency of the initiative is underscored by recent data showing that obesity-related conditions cost Ireland an estimated €1.13 billion annually, equivalent to 2.7% of total health expenditure. The bulk of this burden arises from lost productivity and absenteeism, with indirect costs far exceeding direct healthcare spending.
The lifetime cost of childhood obesity is estimated at more than €5 billion, including €1 billion in direct medical costs and €4 billion in indirect costs such as increased morbidity and premature mortality.
Despite the clear obesity crisis, Ireland’s efforts have earned international recognition. At the 2023 European Congress on Obesity in Dublin, the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe (WHO-Euro) launched its integrated service delivery framework for obesity management, citing Ireland’s model of care as a scalable and effective example for other nations.
Food taskforce
Since its launch in 2016, OPAP has introduced Healthy Eating Guidelines specifically tailored for both young children and older adults. The government also implemented a Sugar Sweetened Drinks Tax in 2018, which a 2024 evaluation found had successfully reduced the consumption of sugary beverages. In addition, a Food Reformulation Roadmap was developed, accompanied by the establishment of a dedicated Taskforce to oversee its implementation.
Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) has rolled out a Model of Care for the Management of Overweight and Obesity, which provides a structured framework for treatment and prevention. Complementing this, the HSE also launched the Healthy Eating Active Living Programme, which promotes healthier lifestyles across Irish communities.
Despite these efforts, obesity remains a significant concern. Approximately 60% of Irish adults and one in five children are living with overweight or obesity. Rates are higher in disadvantaged communities, with one in four children affected in DEIS schools.
Ireland tipping the scales
Ireland’s adult obesity rate of 21% exceeds the EU average of 17%, placing it among the higher-prevalence countries in the bloc. Malta, Hungary, and Croatia report higher rates, while France, Belgium, and the Netherlands maintain lower levels.
Across the EU, 51% of the population aged 16 and over were classified as overweight in 2022, with 17% considered obese. The European Parliament has warned that no Member State is currently on track to meet the WHO’s 2025 target of halting obesity at 2010 levels.
In January of this year, Ireland hosted WHO-Euro and representatives from Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain under the WHO Demonstration Platform – the first initiative of its kind to focus on a specific public health issue. Obesity was selected as the focal point, reflecting its status as a chronic disease and a critical public health priority.
Obesity, the gateway condition
In response to the escalating crisis, the European Union has also adopted a systems-level approach that targets the environmental and commercial drivers of poor diet. This includes the implementation of taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, the provision of subsidies to make healthy foods more affordable, and the enforcement of restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children. The EU also promotes physical activity across all stages of life as a core component of its strategy.
Obesity is recognised by the EU as a gateway condition linked to over 230 non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and at least 13 types of cancer.
As Ireland prepares its next strategic framework, policymakers face growing pressure to align with EU best practices and address the economic and health consequences of obesity with renewed urgency. If Ireland and the EU fail to scale effective obesity policies, the long-term impact on Europe’s economy will impact its global competitiveness.
(VA)
