Obesity highlighted as key priority to EU Health Commissioner – Fitzpatrick

The EU Health Commissioner, Vytenis Andriukaitis came before the Oireachtas Health Committee this week and as rapporteur, Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael TD for Louth and Member of the Oireachtas Health Committee took the opportunity to highlight the obesity problem in Ireland as a key issue.

“The Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar has confirmed that tackling obesity will be one of his main priorities for health in 2015 and I called on the EU Commission to make funding available to Ireland to help with the goal of combatting obesity.

“Much has been written about the long term dangers of childhood obesity. We are all familiar with the underlying causes; a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and lack of education, but in order to deal with a complex and multi-faceted problem like obesity, we need a coordinated response by Government and from the EU.

“I believe that this response should be imaginative, forward thinking and courageous. It is very encouraging that the Minister for Health has committed to take a lead role in promoting greater physical activity and personal health. This will make a big difference in addressing the obesity problem. The first major survey of Ireland’s health since the 2007 Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes & Nutrition will be published this year and this will be repeated every year to give us a regular snapshot of the nation’s health.

“The EU has an important role to play in supporting and providing funding to promote healthy living in Ireland. I emphasised to the Commissioner the importance of raising public awareness and of thinking creatively about how we can do so.

“We need to create an environment where young entrepreneurs aged between 17 and 22 can enter the health and fitness sector. The barriers to entry must be removed and we should start thinking about tax incentives for health and fitness businesses such as juice bars, tennis clubs, cookery schools, yoga classes or aqua sports. This would stimulate economic activity, create jobs and build long term, positive social infrastructure which would tackle obesity.

“Supermarkets have a role to play in ensuring that at least as much shelf space is given to whole foods, unprocessed meat and fresh fruit and veg as is dedicated to crisps, chocolate and alcohol. Making this a responsibility rather than a choice is an important step and this could be implemented at an EU level.

“I took the opportunity to raise the issue of obesity and the importance of promoting healthy living with the EU Health Commissioner and he confirmed that he would consider my appeal for funding in this area.”