“Obesity is a chronic disease that affects more people in Ireland that any other. While it often occurs in
isolation, it is associated with several other chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. It is also associated
with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The morbidity associated with obesity is so
significant that it limits life expectancy and has been put forward as one of the factors explaining may the
recent disimprovement in life expectancy in the US where more than 35% of the population are living
with obesity.”