Sir, – William Reville (Science, December 19th) extensively quoted Prof Mike Gibney's assertion that many factors including genetics are key to tackling obesity and that focusing on socio-economic and food-chain factors are too simplistic.
Obesity is well acknowledged to be a complex problem with many factors influencing it. And while the role of genetics in weight gain is one important factor, in Ireland in the past 20 years, obesity has doubled in women and tripled in men. Worryingly, the National Pre-School Nutrition survey reported 6 per cent of three-year-olds are now obese, while one in four of our primary school children is overweight or obese. This is clearly not just a result of genetics.
Public health awareness campaigns have been developed with the aim of changing things we can actually change; the foods we eat and how active we are as families. We can’t change our genes. Our current Safefood campaign in partnership with Healthy Ireland was developed based on strong feedback from parents that they wanted a solutions-based approach and advice on how to make practical, sustainable changes to their everyday lifestyle habits.
Dr Reville expresses reservations about the socio-economic influences, yet current childhood obesity figures in Ireland clearly show gradients in levels of overweight and obesity by social class: boys and girls from professional households have the same probability of overweight or obesity (19 per cent boys/18 per cent girls) but for the unskilled group the comparable probabilities are 29 per cent of boys and 32 per cent of girls. This social class variation is also evident in adults where overweight and obesity is the norm and therefore levels are high in all social groups.
Dr Reville queries a focus on certain foods (“fast foods” and sugary drinks). However, the evidence base for an association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and overweight is robust. Similarly, health authorities including the World Health Organisation and the Department of Health recommend very limited intake of foods high in fat, sugar and salt. Dr Reville does, however, usefully point out that overeating any food as well as the quality of foods is important.
Tackling an issue as complex as obesity requires a multi-pronged approach and halting or even slowing down overweight and obesity trends of the last 20 years won’t be easy. Food industry initiatives and Government policy form elements of the approach. Public awareness interventions focusing on our food choices and activity habits are also internationally recognised as an important step. – Yours, etc,
MARTIN HIGGINS,
Chief Executive Officer,
Safefood,
Eastgate Avenue,
Little Island,
Co Cork.