The health of the nation is continuing to disimprove, according to the latest Health of the Nation survey from Irish Life.
The report shows that the National Health Score has declined for a fifth consecutive year, with the index down 4.7% since 2019. Irish Life said the decline highlights the need to incorporate healthier lifestyle habits to improve our overall health status.
The report also reveals that more people are sedentary for large parts of the day, while mental wellbeing - particularly among younger people - is declining.
Irish Life said that 100,000 more people in Ireland are now considered to be in "poor health", with 54% of all 16 to 34-year-olds now within this category, compared to 26% of all adults.
The research shows an increase in average weight with 60% of adults in Ireland now considered overweight or obese. Irish Life noted that Ireland's average weight has increased from 79kg in 2023 to 81kg this year.
Meanwhile, the survey also found that 25% of adults report feeling stressed, depressed or anxious more than half the time, while 63% of workplace managers see mental health needs of employees growing year on year.
But despite the health challenges that are present, 89% of Irish adults report feeling positive about the future, with 90% of all respondents believing in their ability to overcome challenges.
Dr Carol Rogan, a psychologist at Irish Life Wellbeing, said the results of this year's Irish Life Health of the Nation report paints a bleak picture of the nation's health, showcasing the downward trajectory we have been experiencing since 2018.
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"The mental wellbeing findings are of significant concern and mirror the most recent global findings which also show no sign of a post-pandemic bounce back. It's evident that we all have a part to play - government, state bodies, employers and individuals - to take action to start to reverse the trends we have seen in recent years," Dr Rogan said.
She also said the findings bring into stark focus the mental wellbeing of younger adults - highlighting a clear generation gap, with younger generations struggling more overall.
"The good news is that the report shows that managers in the workplace are increasingly aware of the mental health needs of their employees, with almost three-quarters of managers in support of formal training in this area, with many external supports available to assist managers improve confidence and support for employees across all age cohorts," she said.
"In terms of outlook, we do see that people still think they can change, with nine in ten people feeling positive about the future and confident in their resilience to overcome issues," she added.
