Childhood obesity on the island of Ireland costs us €7.2b

New research shows how expensive Ireland's problem with childhood obesity is becoming.

The lifetime cost of overweight and obese children on the island of Ireland is estimated at €7.2 billion. That figure includes estimates for both the Republic of Ireland and the North. The cost per person in the Republic came in around €16,000 per person, while it was higher in the North - more than £18,000 (€20,251) per person. The research, commissioned by SafeFood and led by UCC, found that over three quarters of the €7.2 billion (79 per cent) was made up of the indirect lifetime costs of obesity. These include absenteeism, premature mortality and lifetime income losses. Direct costs including hospital care, GP and drug costs accounted for the other 21 per cent. "One in four children on the island of Ireland are overweight or obese," said Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director of Human Health and Nutrition with SafeFood. "With a 70% risk of this tracking into adulthood, this can result in lifelong and inter-generational ill health. "Much can and must be done to lessen this otherwise inevitable and unacceptable burden on society and implementing the obesity strategies North and South is the way forward." The researchers estimated that a five per cent reduction in the average childhood Body Mass Index (BMI) would save the island €1.5 billion.