1. Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the Irish Population, 2007

2. Background Interpretations of self-reported versus measured data Distribution and trends from self-reported BMI, 1998-2007 Comparison of self-reported and measured BMI data, 2007 Distribution of central obesity (waist circumference) Irish and international comparison of overweight and obesity Conclusions and policy implications Summary

3. 1985-89 1990-1994 % Obesity < 5 % 5-9.9% 10-14.9% 15-19.9% 20-24.9% ≥ 25% MALES FEMALES Increasing Obesity Rates in Europe

4. 1995-1999 2000-2005 % Obesity < 5 % 5-9.9% 10-14.9% 15-19.9% 20-24.9% ≥ 25% MALES FEMALES Increasing Obesity Rates in Europe

5. ClassificationBMI (kg/m 2 )Risk of co-morbidities Underweight<18.5Low (but risk of other clinical problems increased) Healthy weight18.5 – 24.9Average Overweight25.0 – 29.9Increased Obese class I30.0 – 34.9Moderate Obese class II35.0 – 39.9Severe Obese class III>40Very severe Weight Categories

6. Self-reported versus Measured Data Self-reported height and weight measurements give a systematic underestimation of the true prevalence of respondents who are overweight or obese Does not detract from the importance of monitoring trends since this underestimation would have been present in 1998 and 2002 SLÁN Surveys Self-reported height and weight estimates continue to be widely used world wide to monitor trends over time Measured data are preferred when determining the true extent of overweight and obesity

7. Self-reported BMI Distribution Trends Overweight levels increased –1998: 31% –2002: 33% –2007: 36% Obesity levels stabilised –1998: 11% –2002: 15% –2007: 14% Trends in Overweight Prevalence by Sociodemographic Characteristics, 2002-2007 –Gender Men: 38%  43% –Age 18-29yrs: 19%  23% –Social Class SC 1-2: 32%  39% SC 3-4: 32  36% SC 5-6: 29  36%

8. Comparison of Measured and Self-Reported Height, Weight and BMI Height was reported accurately across all categories Weight was underreported among both men and women (~4%) BMI calculations were affected by underestimation of weight

9. Comparison of Measured and Self-reported Data

10. Sociodemographic Distribution of Overweight and Obesity BMI Self-reported BMI Measured N=9,735N=2,170 OverweightObeseOverweightObese GENDER (%) Men 43154522 Women 29123224 AGE GROUP 18-29 2362711 30-44 37153922 45-64 44194532 65+ 40144130 SOCIAL CLASS SC 1-2 39134022 SC 3-4 36143724 SC 5-6 36174229

11. North/South Ireland Food Consumption Study (1999) SLÁN 2007 GenderOverweight (%) Obese (%) Overweight (%) Obese (%) Men46204422 Women33163123 Total39183823 National Comparison of Measured Data

12. International Comparison of Measured Data

13. Central Obesity Associated with an increased risk of diabetes and CVD beyond the risk of associated with generalised obesity Defined as a large waist circumference exceeding standard thresholds: –Male threshold >94cm (37in) –Female threshold >80cm (31.5in)

14. Conclusions The high prevalence of overweight and obesity in Irish adults poses a major threat to the health and well-being of the Irish population Based on measured data, almost 2 out of 3 Irish adults were at an unhealthy weight – approximately one out of 4 adults was obese Based on self-reported data, the prevalence of overweight has increased, though obesity levels have stabilised among men and women More than half of Irish adults have a mean waist circumference exceeding the threshold for central obesity The prevalence of obesity is broadly similar to that reported from England (2006) and Scotland (2003), and approximately 5% lower than in the USA (2004)

15. RCSI: Prof Hannah McGee Prof Ruairi Brugha, Dr Ronan Conroy, Dr Emer Shelley, Dr Karen Morgan, Ms Nuala Tully, Mr Mark Ward ESRI: Dr Dorothy Watson, Professor Richard Layte UCC: Prof Ivan Perry, Ms Janas Harrington, Ms Jennifer Lutomski NUIG: Prof Margaret Barry, Dr Michal Molcho, Mr Eric Van Lente SLÁN 2007 Research Team

16. Thank You For Your Attention