Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
1016. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Department has assessed the long-term economic impact of childhood obesity trends on future healthcare expenditure and labour-force participation. [36647/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1010. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the HSE or her Department intends to introduce a formal national obesity-attributable disease modelling framework for Ireland; the proposed timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36641/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1011. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether any national cost-of-illness study is currently underway regarding obesity-related disease expenditure across the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36642/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1016, 1010 and 1011 together.
The current Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP) was launched in September 2016 under the auspices of the Healthy Ireland Framework (Healthy Ireland: A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025).
OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and the overall aim is to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications, and reduce the impact of overweight and obesity on health outcomes for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. It recognises that obesity is a complex, multi-faceted problem and needs a multi-pronged solution, with every sector of society playing its part. OPAP is well aligned with the World Health Organisation in terms of the breadth of policy measures that have been introduced or are being considered in order to address the obesity epidemic.
Under OPAP, Ireland put in place a comprehensive, cross-Government strategy to address obesity and overweight. Since 2016 significant progress has been made in delivering on the Ten Step Programme of OPAP and to drive policy initiatives and actions, ranging from health promotion and education initiatives and obesity prevention measures through to establishing services to treat and manage obesity within the health care system.
No standalone cost of illness study has been regarding obesity-related disease expenditure across the health service in Ireland. Similarly, no study has been commissioned in relation to long-term economic impact of childhood obesity trends on future healthcare expenditure and labour-force participation. The HSE has not produced a specific projection of the cost to the health service over the next ten years that is attributable solely to rising obesity prevalence. This is because obesity is a complex, chronic condition that contributes to healthcare demand across a wide range of diseases and service settings, rather than constituting a discrete, separately costed category of expenditure. The Department has not given any consideration to the development of a formal national obesity-attributable disease modelling framework for Ireland. The new Obesity Policy & Action Plan is currently in development and is expected to be completed and published by the end of this year.
