Major increase in obesity hospitalisations last year

Over 200 people were hospitalised as a direct result of obesity last year.

According to freedom of information figures, almost 60 per cent were male.

These new figures show 207 people had inpatient admissions in Irish hospitals due to obesity in 2021 - up from 157 the previous year.

124 were female and 83 were male.

The figures include 26 children under the age of 16 - and seven people aged between 16 and 24.

61 were aged between 25 and 44 - but the biggest age-group, accounting for 113 people, were over 45.

Of last year's figures, 109 were seen in hospitals in the Ireland East Hospital Group.

39 were seen in the Saolta University Healthcare Group, which includes hospitals in the west and north-west.