The prevalence and trends in overweight and obesity in Irish adults between 1990 and 2011.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity is a serious public health issue, the prevalence of which is increasing globally. The present study aimed to investigate trends in overweight and obesity in Irish adults between 1990 and 2011.


METHODS
Anthropometric data from three Irish national food consumption surveys were used to calculate trends in BMI, waist circumference and waist:hip ratio.


METHODS
Three cross-sectional food consumption surveys: the Irish National Nutrition Survey (1990), the North/South Ireland Food Consumption Survey (2001) and the National Adult Nutrition Survey (2011).


METHODS
A collective sample of free-living Irish adults (n 3125), aged 18-64 years.


RESULTS
There were significant increases in mean weight, height and BMI from 1990 to 2011. Significant increments were also reported in waist and hip circumferences and waist:hip ratio between 2001 and 2011, with concurrent increases in the proportion of individuals at risk of developing CVD, particularly females aged 18-35 years. In 2011, 23·4 % of the Irish population was classified as obese; with the mean BMI increasing by 1·1 kg/m2 between 1990 and 2001 and by 0·6 kg/m2 between 2001 and 2011.


CONCLUSIONS
The present paper characterises obesity levels in Irish adults from 1990 to 2011. Absolute levels of overweight and obesity have increased between these time points. Of concern is the increase in the proportion of young women classified as at risk of CVD, using waist circumference and waist:hip ratio. Effective prevention strategies are needed to avoid further increases.
1UCD Institute of Food and Health,University College Dublin,Room L2.57,Science Centre South,Belfield,Dublin 4,Republic of Ireland.
Elaine A
EA
Boylan
1UCD Institute of Food and Health,University College Dublin,Room L2.57,Science Centre South,Belfield,Dublin 4,Republic of Ireland.
Breige A
BA
McNulty
2School of Food and Nutritional Sciences,University College Cork,Cork,Republic of Ireland.
Janette
J
Walton
2School of Food and Nutritional Sciences,University College Cork,Cork,Republic of Ireland.
Albert
A
Flynn
1UCD Institute of Food and Health,University College Dublin,Room L2.57,Science Centre South,Belfield,Dublin 4,Republic of Ireland.
Anne P
AP
Nugent
1UCD Institute of Food and Health,University College Dublin,Room L2.57,Science Centre South,Belfield,Dublin 4,Republic of Ireland.
Michael J
MJ
Gibney
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult