Minister of State for Health Promotion Catherine Byrne, today launched the report of the third annual Healthy Ireland Survey.

The Survey of 7,500 people aged 15 and over living in Ireland gives an up-to-date picture of the health of the nation and reports on many lifestyle behaviours, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, and sexual health. The 2017 Survey also looked at public attitudes and understanding on topics such as breastfeeding and antibiotic use.

Also in this report, data from three waves have been combined to look at health behaviours among young people aged 15 to 24 years.

Some key findings in this year’s Survey include:

• 22% of the population are current smokers – a drop from 23% last year
• 39% are overweight and 23% are obese
• 19% of drinkers indicate that during the past 12 months they have had feelings of guilt or remorse after drinking
• 35% of all ages eat at least one unhealthy food (sweets, cakes and biscuits, salted snacks, pastries, fried foods) every day
• One in six people (16%) drink sugar sweetened drinks on a daily basis
• 21% have had a HIV test and 22% a STI test during their lifetime
• Nearly half (49%) of those with children said one of their children was breast fed
• Breastfeeding differs by education: three quarters (74%) with a third level degree compared to a third (34%) of those who left school before Leaving Cert said one of their children was breast fed
• 39% were prescribed antibiotics in the previous 12 months
• 68% correctly agree that antibiotics can kill bacteria; however 49% think antibiotics kill viruses
• Using data on 15 to 24 year olds from three survey waves:
• 19% are smokers
• 53% binge drink
• 30% are overweight