A major €8.6 million PEACEPLUS funded project aimed at developing an integrated approach to tackling obesity in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland has been launched.
The CAWT Healthier Futures project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
Nine thousand people will be supported to tackle obesity by empowering them to understand and change behaviours, primarily through improving diet and increasing physical activity.
The Healthier Futures project has two distinct target groups. In Northern Ireland, the project will support adults and families and in Ireland the project will focus on children.
The project will be delivered in the border counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, Derry/Londonderry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh, Down and also Sligo.
Figures from the 2023/24 Health Survey (Northern Ireland) indicate that around two-thirds (64%) of adults were either overweight (37%) or obese (28%), similar to previous years.
Similarly, Ireland has one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe, with 60% of adults and over one in five children and young people living with overweight and obesity, according to the HSE.
Obesity is more common in the most deprived groups compared to the least deprived, thus highlighting a significant health inequality.
The CAWT Healthier Futures project will support positive health and wellbeing, helping to prevent ill health and reducing health inequalities through an integrated approach with the statutory health services working in partnership with voluntary and community partners.
The project will provide a unique opportunity for both jurisdictions to enhance and complement existing overweight and obesity management and prevention programmes, by implementing innovative approaches and sharing learning and best practice.
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said: "I am delighted to support the launch of the Healthier Futures Project (HFP), under the auspices of the PEACEPLUS programme, which will establish a new community-based obesity prevention and management service to address overweight and obesity in the border counties and Northern Ireland.
"I wish the project all the best and look forward to being kept informed about the benefits it will bring to children and adults over the coming years," she added.
