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Just over a third of Irish adults are of normal weight, according to official statistics.<\/p>\nJust over a third of Irish adults are of normal weight, according to official statistics.<\/p>\n
While the proportion of men who were overweight and obese dropped slightly since 2017 (from 70% to 66%), overall figures show that 60% of those surveyed were found to be overweight or obese.<\/p>\n
Just 37% of adults recorded a normal weight this year.<\/p>\n
A survey for the Department of Health also found a significant drop in the number of people smoking.<\/p>\n
Health Promotion Minister Catherine Byrne said: \u201cThe levels of overweight and obesity in our population remains a great cause for concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile levels appear to be stabilizing, there is no room for complacency.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn recent years Government has introduced evidence-based policies and a range of initiatives and actions to tackle both obesity and physical inactivity, and implementation of these remains a priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year\u2019s survey shows a small increase in the number of people meeting the guidelines on physical activity, which is encouraging.\u201d<\/p>\n
Half of those surveyed were achieving the recommended level of physical activity.<\/p>\n
The prevalence of smoking has dropped from 23% in 2015 to 17% in 2019, which means there are now an estimated 165,000 fewer smokers than five years ago.<\/p>\n
Plain packaging with health warnings, introduced under a new law last year, was cited by 25% of smokers as a good motivation to quit.<\/p>\n
In the last year, 40% of smokers have made an attempt to quit, with health concerns being the prime motivator.<\/p>\n
Minister for Health Simon Harris said:\u201d I welcome the findings of this year\u2019s Healthy Ireland Survey and in particular the continued drop in the smoking rate.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis shows that our multi-pronged approach, with legislation, support for smoking cessation and policies to denormalize smoking in our society, is bearing fruit and we are heading in the right direction to being a tobacco-free Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Healthy Ireland report also found that the level of smoking in Ireland has dropped from 20% to 17% of the population.<\/p>\n
82,500 people gave up smoking in Ireland in the past year.<\/p>\n
The number of people who gave up was highest among those aged between 25 and 34, unemployed people and those living in deprived areas.<\/p>\n