New website to tackle obesity in Ireland
A new website is being launched today to help tackle the growing obesity problem in Ireland.
The Obesity Hub - http://obesity.thehealthwell.info - is aimed at bringing together all relevant information on obesity to help policy makers and people affected.
It is estimated that about 60% of adults and about 20% of children and teens in this country are either overweight or obese. These percentages are expected to rise, health officials said.
To help tackle the obesity epidemic; policy makers, practitioners and the community should be able to access all the relevant information they need in a timely manner.
The Obesity Hub will help health experts, social planners, campaign groups and the media to keep up-to-date and use information to respond more effectively to the obesity problem.
The website is managed by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland (IPH) together with its academic partners: the HRB Centre for Health and Diet Research (UCC and UCD) and the Centre for Excellence in Public Health (Queens University Belfast) and is funded through the Department of Health and Children.
"The Obesity Hub marks a significant development in our ability to tackle obesity," said IPH spokesperson Kevin Balanda at the intiative's launch in UCC today.
“The Obesity Hub gathers together, in one website, different types of information related to obesity.
"Users can find statistical data about the level of overweight/obesity, its causes and its impact; details of government strategies and policies, information about obesity prevention and management programmes, and examples of good practice”.
