• Overview
  • Obesity prevalence
  • Trends over time
  • Contextual factors
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Obesity prevalence

Adults, 2021-2022

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:15+
Sample size:7192
Area covered:National
References:Healthy Ireland Survey 2022 Summary Report. https://assets.gov.ie/241111/e31b2aaa-a8d7-411d-8b62-02cca079c741.pdf (Accessed 14.12.2022)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2019

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:18+
Area covered:National
References:Eurostat 2019. Data available at https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1i&lang=en (last accessed 09.08.21)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2018-2019

Survey type:Measured
Age:15+
Sample size:7413
Area covered:National
References:Irish Government Department of Health. “Healthy Ireland Survey, Summary Report 2019.” 2019. Available at: https://assets.gov.ie/41141/e5d6fea3a59a4720b081893e11fe299e.pdf. (Last accessed: 07/04/21)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2014

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:18+
Area covered:National
References:Eurostat Database:http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=hlth_ehis_bm1e&lang=en (last accessed 25.08.20)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2008-2010

Survey type:Measured
Age:18-64
Sample size:1500
Area covered:National
References:National Adult Nutrition Survey, Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance, Published 2011 http://www.iuna.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/National-Adult-Nutrition-Survey-Summary-Report-March-2011.pdf
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2007

Survey type:Measured
Age:15+
Area covered:National
References:OECD Factbook 2010: Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics - ISBN 92-64-08356-1 - © OECD 2010. http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/factbook-2010-en/11/01/03/index.html?contentType=&itemId=/content/chapter/factbook-2010-87-en&containerItemId=/content/serial/18147364&accessItemIds=&mimeType=text/html
Notes:OECD surveys only measured surveys included. Full survey details not yet available.
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 2000-2003

Survey type:Self-reported
Age:15+
Area covered:National
References:Eurostat Yearbook 2006/07. A goldmine of statistical information. Available at https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/5059290/1-20022007-BP-EN.PDF.pdf/edab8c31-b9f3-4c8e-b4db-4137bd045efa?t=1414683510000 (last accessed 04.11.21)
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 1997-1999

Survey type:Measured
Age:18-64
Sample size:1379
Area covered:National
References:McCarthy SN, Harrington KE, Kiely M et al. Analyses of the anthropometric data from the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey. Public Health Nutrition 2001;4 (5(A):1099-1106
Notes:North/South Ireland
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Adults, 1990

Survey type:Measured
Age:18-64
References:North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey, 2000. Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance Summary Report
Unless otherwise noted, overweight refers to a BMI between 25kg and 29.9kg/m², obesity refers to a BMI greater than 30kg/m².

Children, 2018-2020

Survey type:Measured
Age:7
Sample size:1412
Area covered:National
References:Report on the fifth round of data collection, 2018–2020: WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI). Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
Cutoffs:WHO 2007

Children, 2017-2018

Survey type:Measured
Age:5-12
Sample size:596
Area covered:National
References:Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA) (2019) National Children’s Food Survey II: Summary Report. Available online at www.iuna.net
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:11-13
Sample size:1715
References:Bel-Serrat S, Heinen MM, Murrin CM, Daly L, Mehegan J, Concannon M, Flood C, Farrell D, O’Brien S, Eldin N, Kelleher CC [2017]. The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) in the Republic of Ireland: Findings from 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2015. Dublin: Health Service Executive.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2015

Survey type:Measured
Age:6-7
References:Bel-Serrat S, Heinen MM, Murrin CM, Daly L, Mehegan J, Concannon M, Flood C, Farrell D, O’Brien S, Eldin N, Kelleher CC [2017]. The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) in the Republic of Ireland: Findings from 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2015. Dublin: Health Service Executive.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2012

Survey type:Measured
Age:6-7
References:Bel-Serrat S, Heinen MM, Murrin CM, Daly L, Mehegan J, Concannon M, Flood C, Farrell D, O’Brien S, Eldin N, Kelleher CC [2017]. The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) in the Republic of Ireland: Findings from 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2015. Dublin: Health Service Executive.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2010-2011

Survey type:Measured
Age:2-4
Sample size:371
Area covered:National
References:Irish universities nutrition alliance. (2012). National Nutrition pre-school survey. Available: https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/46a7ad27/files/uploaded/The%20National%20Pre-School%20Nutrition%20Survey%20Summary%20Report%20June%202012.pdf. Last accessed 20th September 2018.
Definitions:WHO cut-offs available from survey.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2010

Survey type:Measured
Age:6-7
References:Bel-Serrat S, Heinen MM, Murrin CM, Daly L, Mehegan J, Concannon M, Flood C, Farrell D, O’Brien S, Eldin N, Kelleher CC [2017]. The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) in the Republic of Ireland: Findings from 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2015. Dublin: Health Service Executive.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2008

Survey type:Measured
Age:6-7
References:Bel-Serrat S, Heinen MM, Murrin CM, Daly L, Mehegan J, Concannon M, Flood C, Farrell D, O’Brien S, Eldin N, Kelleher CC [2017]. The Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) in the Republic of Ireland: Findings from 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2015. Dublin: Health Service Executive.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2007-2013

Survey type:Measured
Age:7
Sample size:4395
Area covered:National
References:Spinelli et al (2019). 'Childhood Severe Obesity in Europe', Obes Facts.12, pp. 244–258. (Data from COSI round 1-3)
Notes:NOTE - this data is from COSI round I, II and III (2007 - 2013)
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2003-2004

Survey type:Measured
Age:5-12
Sample size:594
Area covered:National
References:O'Neill JL, McCarthy SN, Burke SJ, Hannon EM, Kiely M, Flynn A, Flynn MA, Gibney MJ.Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Irish school children, using four different definitions.Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Jun;61(6):743-51. Epub 2006 Dec 20.
Cutoffs:IOTF

Children, 2002

Survey type:Measured
Age:4-16
Sample size:17499
Area covered:Republic of Ireland
References:Whelton H, Harrington J, Crowley E, Kelleher V, Cronin M, Perry IJ. Prevalence of overweight and obesity on the island of Ireland: results from the North South Survey of Children’s Height, Weight and Body Mass Index, 2002. BMC Public Health. 2007;7:187. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-187.
Cutoffs:IOTF

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