Overweight in Ireland

This story describes the overweight epidemic in Ireland -- it's similar to the problem in almost every industrialized country in the world.

According to the government-appointed National Taskforce on Obesity, 300,000 children are overweight or obese and projected increases of 10,000 annually loom unless radical measures are taken.

Treating obesity-related illnesses costs nearly €500-million per year, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said and promised to assess whether taxation could be amended to encourage healthier diets.