A major new campaign has been launched aimed at tackling the serious problem of obesity.

Entitled, 'Little Steps Go A Long Way', the campaign will try to raise awareness of obesity by showing that small changes to physical activity and food habits will have a big impact on health and on the levels of people who are either overweight, or obese.

The problem of obesity is at epidemic proportions among adults and children across the island of Ireland and looks set to continue growing at a rate of 1 per cent every year. In 2005, it was estimated that about 2,000 premature deaths in the Republic of Ireland were attributed to obesity and that these deaths could be costing the state as much as €4 billion a year.

Speaking at the campaign launch, Minister Mary Wallace, TD, Minister for Health Promotion and Food Safety said "The report of the obesity taskforce identified childhood obesity as a key threat to the future health of people on the island of Ireland. It called for real practical engagement by all sectors with this issue. This initiative represents true cooperation and avoidance of duplication of effort by the key agencies charged with promoting health, healthy diets, physical activity and lifestyles. I welcome this campaign, which through concerted action aims to tackle this important issue."

The campaign is being run by Health Service Executive and safefood in collaboration with the Health Promotion Agency, Northern Ireland.

Further information is available at www.littlesteps.eu.

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