The national health and lifestyle surveys: Survey of Lifestyle, Attitude and Nutrition, (SLAN) & the Irish Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey (HBSC).

Two baseline surveys of health related behaviours among adults and school-going young people were carried out across the Republic of Ireland in 1998. The survey intended to produce reliable baseline data for a representative cross section of the Irish population and establish a survey protocol, which will enable lifestyle factors to be re-measured in order to identify trends. Overall 48% of respondents reported good or very good health however smoking rates among adults exceed the target rates for the year 2000 and there has been a shift in alcohol consumption pattern, as most Irish adults now drink. 32% have a Body Mass Index (BMI) that would be classed as overweight and only 42% of adult respondents engage in some form of regular physical exercise