The first ever Healthy Ireland Survey has given us the most up-to-date picture of the health of the nation in eight years.

Surveying a range of lifestyle, health, and wellbeing factors responses from 7,500 people aged 15 and over revealed some dramatic improvements in the state of our health, and highlighted the areas that we need to work on to keep ourselves healthy and well.

Some findings include:

• 85% of people report that their health is good or very good and our life expectancy is above the OECD average – at 83 for women, and 79 for men.
• The QUIT campaign is working: 77% of adults don’t smoke, and the remaining 23% are trying, or considering quitting.
• Obesity rates are levelling out, but 60% of people are still overweight and two-thirds of people are not getting enough exercise – although ‘being more physically active’ is the change in that most people said that they want to make for their health.
• Four out of ten people binge on a typical drinking occasion, and only 15% of them recognise that it’s harmful.

As our population ages, and with it, the prevalence of preventable chronic diseases, it’s important that we take action early to keep ourselves well for as long as we can. Together, we can help to keep Ireland healthy.