ACTION Ireland study – Awareness, Care and Treatment in Obesity management in Ireland
The ACTION Ireland study surveyed 504 people living with obesity (PWO) and 159 healthcare professionals (HCPs) with the aim of exploring perceptions, attitudes, practices, and barriers to effective obesity management in Ireland. This is the first Irish dataset capturing the experience of PWO and the multidisciplinary healthcare professionals who support them. Key insights form the research:
- While obesity is recognised as a chronic disease, care often does not reflect chronic disease management models
- Many people living with obesity feel it is their sole responsibility to self-manage and this results in delays accessing treatments and supports
- While HCPs are hesitant to initiate conversations, most PWO preferred their HCP to proactively initiate the discussion, suggesting that appropriately framed conversations about obesity care are both acceptable and valued
- There is a clear need for clinical upskilling
You can access the research publication here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667368125000750
Updated Obesity A to Z website
The HSE A to Z public-facing webpages on obesity were updated early this year, as part of their scheduled 3 year review period . The obesity medicines page has been expanded to include more information on how obesity medicines work, their access and reimbursement, possible side effects and how to manage them. A new bariatric surgery page was created, which includes more details on preparing for surgery, recovery and follow up care. The updated page can be accessed here: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/obesity/
The Best Health Programme promotional video
A new ‘Help and support’ page on the HSE obesity page includes information about the Best Health Programme, the self-management education and support programme for people living with obesity, delivered by dietitians in the chronic disease hubs. This page includes a new promotional video sharing the lived experience of participants of the programme. This can be disseminated widely and shared in General Practice to raise awareness of the service. The video can be viewed via the link: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/obesity/supports-courses/
Talking about weight – a guide to developing healthier habits for life patient information booklet
This patient resource for use in primary care settings is now available to download via www.healthpromotion.ie in 7 additional languages, these include; Arabic, Polish, French, Irish, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish. The aim of this guide is to help people develop healthier habits that support health, wellbeing and their best weight. A person’s best weight is the weight they can maintain, while living the healthiest and happiest life that is sustainable and enjoyable for them.
World Obesity Day 4th March 2026
Please consider sharing information on the resources and services available in your area for people living with obesity using your social media and communication channels. For more information on world obesity day visit: https://www.worldobesityday.org/
Comment from Dr Jean O’Connell, Clinical Lead Obesity National Clinical programme:
“A guiding principle of the Obesity National Clinical Programme and model of care is that weight-based stigma and obesity discrimination will not be tolerated within the healthcare system. The ACTION Ireland research directly supports that by sharing the lived experience, identifying training needs and highlighting important opportunities to enhance obesity care in the Irish health system.
The updated obesity A to Z HSE web-pages address feedback from the public regarding easily accessible trustworthy information on obesity treatments and support. The Best Health programme promotional video highlights the positive impact the programme is having for people living with obesity and will support general practice in discussing referral to the programme with patients.”