Obesity is emerging as one of the most serious health problems in Ireland, according to the Minister for Health, Mr Martin.
He was speaking at the launch in Dublin today of a new healthy lifestyle campaign to tackle obesity.
The Every Step Counts campaign will try to encourage healthy diets and physical exercise by holding nationwide events for young people and distributing information over the next two months.
A survey announced today as part of the campaign reveals that 69 per cent of people believe Ireland has a serious problem with obesity, and 32 per cent worry about the possibility they might become obese.
Mr Martin said there had been a 30 per cent increase in reported obesity levels over the last four years. "Whilst every second person is overweight, one in eight Irish people is obese and we are setting poor trends for future generations," he said.
The research, undertaken by the Health Promotion Unit at the Department of Health and Children, found that 33 per cent of married men and 26 per cent of married women said they would be more active if they had more time.
Some 41 per cent of those in the over-65 age bracket said they would be more active if they had more energy.
The weather was also blamed for sedentary lifestyles, with 19 per cent saying that they would be more active if the weather was better.
Among 15 to 24-year-olds, 23 per cent said they would be encouraged by cheaper gym memberships, whilst 38 per cent said that better sports facilities would encourage greater levels of activity.
When asked what they would do with "an extra hour in the day", 20 per cent of respondents would watch TV and 12 per cent would use the extra hour to sleep.
When respondent were asked about the main causes of obesity, 57 per cent blamed take-away food; 67 per cent cited too little exercise; 59 per cent reported overeating; and 35 per cent pinpointed snacking as the main culprit.
Despite figures that show that around half of the population is overweight or obese, and that three-quarters of single men are not concerned about becoming overweight. This figure falls to just 63 per cent for their married counterparts.
Mr Martin spoke about his concerns in relation to falling levels of activity, which were reflected by the 37 per cent of those surveyed who said that they would always, or very often, use transport for journeys of less than one mile.
The Minister also launched a website www.healthysteps.ie, which will be online from September 6th.
The survey from Lansdowne Market Research was a nationally representative omnibus survey of 1,200 people during July and August.