Addressing Obesity

It is well established that obesity (and overweight) is a significant problem in Ireland. Addressing this complex issue requires multi-agency, multi-level and coordinated approaches.

A Healthy Weight for Ireland, the national Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025, was developed to address policy and intervention options in the context of promoting healthy eating and the prevention and management of overweight and obesity.

You can watch a video of the Obesity Policy and Action Plan launch here

Some of the measures taken as a result of this policy are:

publication of the evaluation of the sugar sweetened drinks tax.
launch of a Safefood public health campaign on the unhealthy food environment
a “Healthy Weight” social media campaign targeting 24-35 year olds
development of a suite of Healthy Eating Guidelines , including revision of the whole population HEG, development of HEG for 1-5 year olds and HEG for older persons
publication of a Reformulation Roadmap and establishment of a Reformulation Task Force
development of a HSE Model of Care for the Management of Overweight and Obesity (MOC)
a code of practice in relation to advertising, promotion and sponsorship of food and drink
establishment of the HSE Healthy Eating Active Living Programme (HEAL)

In addition, an independent evaluation of the implementation of the OPAP and a Review of OPAP by the Department of Health were published and can be found below alongside progress reports and minutes of the meetings of the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG).

A Healthy Weight for Ireland - Obesity Policy and Action Plan

The full text of 'A Healthy Weight for Ireland - Obesity Policy and Action Plan'.

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Obesity Policy and Action Plan (2016-2025) Progress Report 2023

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OPAP Implementation Progress Report 2016-2019

This first Progress Report under the Obesity Policy and Action Plan provides an outline of progress in the 60 actions identified in the Plan, over the periods 2016-2017 and 2018-2019

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Evaluation of the Implementation of A Healthy Weight for Ireland 2016-2025

The Evaluation of Implementation of A Healthy Weight was prepared by UCC and presents the results of an independent expert-led evaluation of the implementation of the 60 actions under the OPAP covering the period January 2016 to May 2021 using the internationally recognised Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (FOOD-EPI).

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Review of the Obesity Policy & Action Plan (2016-2025)

This Review provides an update as to the current status of the OPAP to end October 2022, captures the overall policy context regarding obesity policy, aligned with the WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022 and signposts next steps for delivery of the OPAP out to 2025.

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