A ‘Healthy Weight Action Plan’ was today launched by Government to tackle an alarming rise in obesity and related illnesses among children and adults.

Physical activity will be promoted in schools, while people of all ages will be urged to do more exercise and eat healthier foods, under the scheme announced by Health Minister Michael Scott.

The Minister said urgent action was needed to reverse a trend showing 63 percent of adults in Bermuda are overweight or obese, up from 57 percent in 1999.

In the same period, adults with high blood pressure increased from seven percent to 25 percent; and high cholesterol from eight percent to 34 percent. Heart disease, which is linked to both conditions, remains the Island’s number one killer.

Announcing the action plan, which will also include tax cuts on healthy foods, at a press conference today, Mr. Scott said it would “tackle the tremendous local problem of overweight and obesity in youth and adults”.

“Health authorities globally have concluded that obesity is reaching pandemic proportions,” said Mr. Scott.

“The proportion of obese population has grown by 400 percent in the last 25 years in many high-income countries. In Bermuda, as in other places, this is a major public health concern.”

* See The Royal Gazette tomorrow for a full breakdown of Government’s plans.