Nation’s health: Study shows Ireland moving in right direction

The comprehensive snapshot of the nation’s health revealed in the Healthy Ireland study shows a nation edging tentatively towards greater wellbeing.

Progress is uneven, with significant differences in healthy behaviour between the sexes and along the social divide, but overall there is good reason for optimism.

It is clear from the survey that public health messages about the dangers of smoking and physical inactivity are getting through. It is equally clear the Irish aren’t yet ready to give up their fondness for alcohol, snack food and, to a lesser extent, risky sex.

This is the first national survey of people’s health since 2007; the previous series of studies was axed during the economic downturn to save money. And while many of the findings in the survey are unsurprising, measuring where we are now is essential for assessing the impact of future policy initiatives.

The good news is that the proportion of obese and overweight people has dropped slightly; the bad news is that the figure is still at 60 per cent. As Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said at the launch of the study, this probably means we aren't on track to become Europe's fattest nation, but that still isn't much to boast about.

Life expectancy

One interesting finding is that the affluent classes consume more alcohol, but otherwise people in more deprived areas exhibit more unhealthy behaviour. They smoke more, and are more likely to binge drink, be obese and skip breakfast. Not surprisingly, other research has shown this results in shorter life expectancy and higher rates of sickness.

The figures on smoking are particularly alarming, with 36 per cent using tobacco in the most deprived areas, easily twice the level among affluent groups.

Health is clearly a class issue, which poses a conundrum for policymakers. Taxing tobacco or junk food and drink helps to discourage consumption but disproportionately affects the poor.

The Government has generally shied away from new taxes on unhealthy foods. Varadkar has written to Minister for Finance Michael Noonan seeking a 20 per cent tax on sugar-sweetened drinks but not, seemingly, with any great expectation of success. Next week's budget will tell all.

The Minister’s department is brimming with creditable plans and strategies for creating a healthier Ireland.

There is, however, a touch of Groundhog Day about these promises: 10 years ago, a previous government’s obesity taskforce reported, making many of the same recommendations that are around today.

That initiative foundered for a lack of political leadership, and the danger is the same will happen again. Aside from its aversion to beverage tax, the Government has taken a long time to produce much-needed alcohol reforms.

Legal challenge

Legislation is promised but will fall in the event of an early election. The much-vaunted plan to introduce plain packaging for tobacco products must overcome a stiff legal challenge before it sees the light of day.

Asked at the launch what the Government had actually done to achieve the goal of a healthy Ireland, Varadkar pointed to two pieces of tobacco legislation, some new screening programmes and new regulations on sunbed use.

Officials later told The Irish Times 85 cent had been added to the price of a pack of cigarettes during the Government's term, while excise on alcohol has been hiked in the last two budgets.

It is clear much still needs to be done. Changes to the school curriculum, to the built environment and to planning laws can improve the health of the population. The existing “softly softly” approach with the food and hospitality industry has achieved little, aside from changes forced on companies by measures introduced outside Ireland. Processed food needs to be reformulated, portion sizes reduced and nutritional information made more conspicuous and easier to understand.