24 Oct Healthy Ireland Survey 2016
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Minister of State at the Department of Health, launched the Summary Report of the Healthy Ireland Survey 2016 (October 2016).
The second annual survey involved 7,500 people aged 15 and over living in Ireland. Interviews took place between September 2015 and May 2016. The survey provides up-to-date information on the health of the nation.
The Healthy Ireland Survey covers a number of topics including diet and nutrition. The following are some of the key findings from the diet and nutrition section of the report:
- 73% of the population eat fewer than the recommend guideline of five portions of fruit and vegetables daily
- 27% eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables daily
- A greater number of females compared to males consume the recommended five daily portions of fruit and vegetables
- 42% eat 6 or more portions of snacks daily
- A larger amount of those aged 55 and over (51%) eat 6 or more portions of snack foods daily compared to 27% of those aged 15 to 24
- 14% consume sugar sweetened beverages daily
- 18% of women aged 25 to 34 take a folic acid supplement
- 74% eat breakfast every day
Some findings from the survey indicate a small positive trend towards healthier behaviours exists. This includes a decrease in the amount of people eating snack foods daily (62% to 60%), a decrease in the amount of people drinking sugar sweetened drinks daily (15% to 14%) and an increase in the amount of people eating five or more portions of fruit and vegetables daily (26% to 27%).
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