HC Deb 18 July 1996 vol 281 c665W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the estimated percentage of(a) men and (b) women, aged (i) 16 to 64 years and (ii) 64 years and over, who were obese for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement. [37367]

Mr. Moss

The Northern Ireland health and activity survey, which was published in April 1994, provides data on obesity in Northern Ireland in 1992. This information is given in the following table in the age groups used in the survey. Data on obesity for other years since 1979 are not available.

Per cent. of the population who were obese in 1 1992
Aged
16–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74
Men 3 9 25 18 25 23
Women 16 15 23 30 33 23
1 Obese is defined as Body Mass Index (weight (KG)/height (m))2 of 30 or more for males and 28.6 for females.