Weight loss news

The obesity epidemic isn’t just a health issue!!

The obesity epidemic isn’t just a health issue – it impacts upon a number of different government departments.
First and foremost obviously – health. People don’t die of obesity per se but they do die of its “co-morbidities”, including heart disease, cancer, stroke etc. Quality of life is diminished through immobility and related disease. It has been likened by some to alcoholism, and requires similarly holistic treatment programmes. (All Party Select Committee report on Obesity, 27th May 2004)The cost of obesity is conservatively estimated by the National Audit Office (2001)to be around £3.3-3.7 billion a year, and including overweight, around £6.6-7.4 billion.
Education: 1 in 5 children in the UK is obese. Childhood obesity from 2004 figures published in 2006 (Health of the Nation) run at approx 19% with 25% of young people between the ages of 11 and 16 being obese. We need to re-educate children in home economics, food science, cooking, PE and human biology to reverse the trend. NICE report 2006 proposes: “policies relating to building layout and recreational spaces, catering (including vending machines) and the food and drink children bring into school, the taught curriculum (including PE), school travel plans and provision for cycling.”
Work and Pensions: Obesity reduces productivity, cuts short working life and increases demand for incapacity benefits.
Transport: Prevention of obesity must be considered in future plans: ie: sustainable cycle paths, types of public transport etc
Environment. Britain’s streets and cities must become consumer friendly and more conducive to walking, cycling and fitness pursuits. providing facilities and schemes such as cycling and walking routes, cycle parking, area maps and safe play areas. NICE proposes: (report on obesity 2006) “making streets cleaner and safer, through measures such as traffic calming, congestion charging, pedestrian crossings, cycle routes, lighting and walking schemes; ensuring buildings and spaces are designed to encourage people to be more physically active (for example, through positioning and signing of stairs, entrances and walkways).
DEFRA. Britain actually suffers from malnutrition. Food is plentiful but is mostly processed, high in fats, sugar and salt and low in fibre, calcium, vitamins and iron. Such a diet is conducive to weight gain and ill health. The junk food industry can be compared to the tobacco industry 50 years ago – reluctant to make changes unless forced to do so, and advertising and selling a product which can be damaging to health. The diet industry should be similarly considered.
The Treasury: lost tax revenue from loss of employment, reduced life expectancy of workforce, and additional costs to the NHS.
Obesity directly impacts many of the main concerns highlighted in “Breakdown Britain” – including poverty, depression, poor quality of life, changed family dynamics, ill health and prejudice. The approach , therefore, must be two pronged – prevention PLUS the treatment of a generation already suffering.
Obesity is having a disastrous effect upon the health of the nation – and government is slow to tackle it – addressing in the simplest terms prevention of obesity for a new generation of children, whilst “writing off” a whole generation of adults and teenagers who are too
expensive and difficult to help. In my opinion, Government is consumed by a paralysis of fear over this issue. However, according to NICE,
“If current trends of overweight and obesity continue, the Department of health (Zaninotto et al. 2006) have estimated that by 2010, the number of people overweight and obese in England could increase by 14%. Therefore it could be assumed the costs could rise to between £7.5 and £8.4 billion per year.
Therefore it could be assumed that reducing obesity by 1% or preventing a 1% increase in obesity would result in cost avoidance of between £66 and £74 million per year”
At present, 20 million voters are obese – and the vast majority are desperately seeking a way out of their plight.

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