Pick three of your closest friends. The likelihood is that in your small group of four one of you has to lose a few pounds. That’s because 25% of the Irish adult population is overweight.

Surprised? Don’t worry if you’re not, as nowadays it’s almost the norm for people to be an unhealthy weight. According to obesity expert Prof Donal O’Shea, Ireland is probably the closest European country to the US in terms of obesity figures.

Known to most of us as the straight-talking specialist on the hit RTÉ show Operation Transformation, Donal is also a consultant endocrinologist at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, and a speaker at the Women & Agriculture Conference on 24 October in the Europe Hotel.

Donal says: “I’m keen to talk to the farming women of Ireland. Many of these women have families and often are the role model and gatekeeper, for both their partner and children, when it comes to healthy eating. Prevention is better than the cure and while we have an obesity problem on our hands now, we are heading in the direction of an epidemic. It is up to parents around the country to help tame this ticking time bomb.”

One in four of our three-, nine- and 12-year-olds are either overweight or obese. Compare that to 30 years ago when only 3-4% of children had weight problems.

“We’re already seeing the health effects of diabetes, cancer and even dementia on that generation – imagine what it will be like in a few years. There is an 80% chance that those who are obese as children will continue to be obese as adults,” says Donal.

At the conference, he will be pinpointing foods that are contributing to the problem.

“It can be hard for people to get the right message. After all, 80% of food advertising is focused on high-salt and high-sugar foods that are contributing to the problem. While we all have our own individual responsibility when it comes to obesity, the Government also has a lot to do.”

Donal will also be giving us his opinion on Operation Transformation and why sometimes it is not the best idea to be a leader, but always a good idea to follow the programme.

For more information on the conference and to buy tickets, log on to our website at www.irishcountryliving.ie.