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Obesity is
a major public health concern for Northern Ireland
Almost half of
all men and more than one third of women are overweight in
Northern Ireland with a further one fifth of men and one quarter
of women being classed as obese.
The increasing
levels of both overweight and obesity are well documented
and are recognised as a major public health concern in Northern
Ireland. Today the Health Promotion Agency is holding a *seminar
that aims to provide an overview of the issue of obesity in
both children and adults.
Angela McComb,
Regional Health Promotion Manager for Nutrition with the Health
Promotion Agency, said: "The level of obesity here raises
concerns because of the increased health risks it brings,
such as, the increased risk of heart disease, some cancers,
high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.
"The statistics
for adults are worrying but there is also increasing concern
for children where a similar pattern is emerging. A recent
survey of 12 year olds has shown that one in three boys and
one in four girls carry excess weight. The worry with this
is that children who are overweight may well carry that excess
into adulthood when it can be very difficult to lose."
There are many
reasons for people being overweight, including an increasingly
sedentary lifestyle and changes in eating patterns, such as,
increased snacking on foods rich in fat and sugar, as well
as an increased dependence on convenience foods that can be
high in hidden fat and therefore a concentrated source of
calories.
Angela continued:
"This seminar will outline the current theories relating to
the development of obesity, how it can be measured and classified,
the consequences of being overweight and will present strategies
for its prevention and management." This one day event is
being held at Malone House and is part of the Health Promotion
Agency's short course and seminar programme.
END
Notes
to the editor: Figures taken from the Health &
Wellbeing Survey 1997
*An
evaluation of this training event is available Here
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