Healthy Futures obesity strategic framework for Northern Ireland
Date published:
Obesity continues to be one of the most important public health challenges facing Northern Ireland.
Living with obesity, having poor diets and/or not being physically active, is recognised by the World Health Organisation as one of the most serious global health challenges we face. The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly tripled between 1975 and 2016, and it is estimated that by 2030 over 1 billion people globally will be living with obesity.
Those living with overweight or obesity are at a higher risk of a range of major health conditions including heart disease and stroke; type II diabetes and some cancers, including postmenopausal breast cancer. Obesity can also contribute to mental health issues such as depression, orthopaedic problems, and complications in pregnancy.
The new Healthy Futures Obesity Strategic Framework sets out actions to prevent and address overweight and obesity, from education and prevention through to weight management and treatment services.
The strategic framework aims to address obesity in Northern Ireland through actions delivered collaboratively across sectors, ongoing evaluation, and adaptation to ensure effective implementation of evidence-based actions
The new strategic framework will take a whole system approach to addressing obesity and supporting people to achieve a healthy weight, it will be health led but not solely health owned.
The vision statement for the new strategic framework, is ‘to work collectively to create the wider social and environmental conditions in Northern Ireland that enable and support people to improve their diet and participate in more physical activity, and that reduces the risk of related harm for those living with overweight and obesity’.