Obesity in Ireland has reached dangerous levels, a leading clinician has said. 

The figures published in the Lancet in collaboration with the World Health Organisation reveal that one in eight people in the world are obese.

In Ireland, almost 60% of adults are obese or overweight, with men slightly more likely to be heavier than women. 

“We have progressed from having 42% of our adult population either overweight or obese to [the current figures],” HSE National Clinical Lead for Obesity Dr Donal O’Shea said. 

“That’s in line with the global trend in developed countries and obesity has passed malnutrition as the major nutritional disease that we’re dealing with.” 

Globally, obesity among adults has more than doubled since 1990 and has quadrupled among children and adolescents between the ages of 5 to 19 years of age. 

'An exemplar country'

Dr O'Shea said the problem was now “beyond pandemic levels”. 

“It’s claiming more lives than COVID annually,” he said. 

“This report highlights that there are 31 out of the 195 countries taking major measures to address this - both prevention and treatment. 

“They do highlight Ireland as one of those exemplar countries. 

“So, we are making efforts [to address this].” 

For those looking to lose weight, your GP may be able to refer you to the HSE’s Best Health programme, which is a 12 month course run by dieticians.

Main image: A person standing on scales.