Better health through better sport

Obesity is costing the country over €1 billion a year according to research by health insurer Glohealth.
It points out that one in four adult males is technically obese and that this compares to a figure of one in ten as short a time ago as 1980.
Sport is the single biggest factor in the health and wellbeing of the nation. It can be used  in terms of public policy to encourage running, swimming or cycling among the general population, and get back on a better course of fitness.
That cost of obesity is over 20 times the total government funding for sports programmes through the Irish Sports Council and it must be asked what impact on one figure could be made through even a fractional increase in the latter.
Public funding is vital for the continuance of programmes that will create a healthier nation but it also must be stated that commercial investment is vital as well.
Liberty Insurance through the All Ireland Hurling and Camogie Championships; Aviva through the Stadium and Schools athletics programmes; and Laya Healthcare through underage rugby and running events in the past week, as well as longer term local sports sponsorships, are all doing their part.
Perhaps Glohealth, with a target of young, active customers, and a specific package targeting sports cover health insurance, will also become involved in helping to increase sporting participation and reduce the figures of shock in any re-run of this survey for 2014.


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