The Health Minister Leo Varadkar is calling for a 20% tax on fizzy drinks in the upcoming budget.

Mr Varadkar was speaking at the launch of a new survey by his department - which shows 60% of the Irish public are either overweight or obese.

It has found that less than one-third of the population is 'sufficiently active', with the average Irish person sitting for five hours every day.

Obesity levels appear to have levelled off since 2007, but a majority admit to eating snack foods every day - with some snacking twice.

GP Dr Sinead Beirne says she is not surprised by the findings.

"I think that's just a sign of the times, that we're all getting bigger" she said.

"And in fact, sometimes when a child comes in and they look actually on the slim side of things I might worry about them...and they're actually perfectly normal".

"It's just because we're getting used to seeing bigger children and bigger adults".

"So I think we are fooling ourselves - even the medical professionals are" she added.

While Minister Varadkar says he has written to Finance Minister Michael Noonan asking for a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in an effort to tackle obesity.