Britain's obesity timebomb

August 25, 2006

| Submit Comments | Comments (9) | Previous | Next

BRITAIN is facing an obesity timebomb, with new figures revealing an escalation of the crisis.

The alarming Department of Health statistics predict that nearly a third of the population will be obese within the next four years - and that by 2010 more than 14m people will be dangerously overweight.

Thousands are expected to suffer diseases like cancer, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, with the cost of obesity to the NHS rising well beyond the current é1bn.

Over the past three years, obesity among adults has risen by 38 per cent. By 2010, there will be 1.7m obese children and almost 13m obese adults.

A total of two per cent of girls and 19 pert cent of boys aged two to 15 will be regarded as chronically overweight. The projections have been madeas millions are poured into education on reading food labels and exercise.

What should be done to reduce obesity levels? Have your say below.

| Submit Comments | Comments (9) | Previous | Next

Showing comments 1 to 9 and replies | View All

jonny, stockport (25/08/2006 at 12:26)

fatty fatty boom boom !!!

Tony Mozzerella, Manchester (25/08/2006 at 12:50)

It's the only way that the successive Chancellor will balance the books and ensure that there are fit and able citizens to conscript.

Tony Mozzerella, Manchester (25/08/2006 at 13:18)

Let's see.. appalling work/life balance ( for those that choose to work ), spiralling cost of living and unaffordable housing. Coupled with wages that are being outstripped by daily rising costs. Could there be a correlation???

PW, Manchester (25/08/2006 at 13:18)

I have a theory on this, and I believe it cuts through all the hype and expensive slimming aids etc. Monitor your calory intake daily, and if you know the next piece of food will take you over, then don't put it in your mouth. Just as importantly, take exercise of some sort every day to ensure your body burns up some of the calories you consume. When overall consumption of calories regularly exceeds intake, the weight will come off. You do have to be committed though.

David C, City Centre (25/08/2006 at 13:25)

At last its about time this problem was discussed. If there was half as many column inches discussing this potential nightmare as there is devoted to insulting Victoria Beckham, Keira Knightly for being too slim we might get somewhere. One of the problems is the current myth that being overweight is more womanly and natural, well it may be in the UK and USA but it isn¿¿TMt in most other places. It was even reported this morning that it must be the supermarkets fault for selling unhealthy food, hmm try avoiding the pie and crisps section and enquire where the fruit and veg section is.

David, New Labour Hell (25/08/2006 at 14:23)

Seems that Britain is 'literally' a sinking ship then!

Ace Riley, manchester (25/08/2006 at 16:23)

People need to be aware about trans fats and the damage that they do towards putting on the weight and clogging arteries and heart desease.The public and the manufacturers need to cut these completely out .

k, glasgow (26/08/2006 at 08:40)

the supermarkets should be held more accountable. food is full of additives even the most inocuous foodstuffs have sugar added, not to mention unnecessary fats, salts etc. Lets be honest the rise in obesity levels do concur with the rise in prossessed foods, it is getting more and more difficult to buy unprocessed foods in a supermarket, even their organic produce doesn't taste anything like natural food that i can source from local farms.

Ace Riley, manchester (26/08/2006 at 13:35)

Manchester council has a lot to be responsible for "Allowing fast food shops to open by the thousands" along our high street where i live openshaw we have loads of fast food shops opening up every week,on aston new road there rows upon rows of fast food shops all been given the go ahead by the local authority??Why dont they stamp down on these shops that sell these foods full of trans fats? and stop giving planning permission??or is it money that these shops generate are the controlling factor for manchester councill????

()

Report

Health