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Obesity Information Sheet
Definition
 The World Health defines obesity as a BMI equal to or more than 30.
Distribution
 In the developed world there is a higher percentage of the population been obese. This percentage is
increasing.
 World figures show there is approximately 600 million obese people in the world
 The WHO estimates that by 2015 they may be approximately 800 million obese people.
 In the UK - 8% obese in 1980 to 26% in 2014, (16 million).
 In the USA: 15% in 1980 obese to 31% in 2000. Also over 35% of children are overweight in USA.
 In India 15% in 1980 to 27% by 2009, (77 million people).
 The relative percentage of obese in the developing world is smaller than the developed world. However,
in absolute number there are more obese people in the developing world.
 The rate of the increase is also faster in the developing world.
 If nothing is done experts believe that 40% of UK population will be obese with in generation.
Causes
 Energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended.
 A global shift in diet from increased intake of energy dense foods that are high in fat and sugars, but
low in vitamins and minerals.
 A trend towards decreased physical activity due to the increasingly sedentary nature of many forms of
work, changing modes of transport and increased urban living.
Impacts on Health
 Type 2 diabetes. – 60% of cases linked to obesity.
 Coronary heart disease
 Some types of cancer, such as breast and bowel.
 Stroke.
 Lead to psychological problems such as self-esteem or depression.
 Other co-morbidities include gall-bladder disease, fatty liver, sleep apnoea and osteoarthritis.
 May reduce life expectancy reduce between 3 to 10 years.
 Responsible for 9000 premature deaths per year in the UK.
Impacts on Life style
 Breathlessness /
 Type 2 diabetes. – medication, pills, insulin injections and change diet.
 Bowel cancer – colostomy bag.
 In extreme cases people bed- bound or cannot work.
 Cannot exercise due to osteoarthritis.
 Loss of self-esteem or development of depression.
Impacts on Economic Development
 Overall cost to UK £47 billion – 3 % of GDP - 2014
 NHS spends £6 billion directly treating obesity.
 NHS spends £10 billion on Diabetes – 10% of NHS budget.
 NHS spends £638 million on obesity prevention.
 Obese people need higher doses of antibiotics.
 NHS expects to have a £30 billion deficit by 2020.
 Lost production to UK economy of £2.1 billion in 2014.
 18,000 sick days lost in 2008 for the UK.
 The average obese person has an extra 4 days sick per year.
 Essex fire service spent £900,000 between 2004 and 2008 as they have been called out to assist with
moving large people.
 60% of UK cases of type 2 diabetes can be attributed to obesity.
Ways to Reduce Obesity
Individual
 Achieve a healthy weight by reducing calorie intake (diets)
 Limit energy intake from fats and shift consumption from saturated fats to unsaturated fats.
 Increase consumption of fruit and vegetables, as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts.
 Limit intake of sugars.
 Increase physical activity – at least 30 minutes of regular exercise on most days.
The implementation of these recommendations requires sustained
Government, NGOs and the private sector have vital roles to play.
political
commitment.
Government
 Minimum nutritional levels set by the government for school providing meals.
 Vending machines in school can only contain healthy foods.
 Legal requirement for primary and secondary school to increase the allocation given to physical
education lessons.
 Government sets up a UK Obesity Strategy which was published in January 2009. This set targets to
reduce obesity.
 In 2009 attends to spend £75 million campaigning to reduce obesity rates in the UK.
 One of the main initiatives is the Change 4Life campaign.
 Another initiative was the – ‘be healthy beheard’ campaign.
NHS
 Pilot scheme with 500 people was set up and run by NHS with financial rewards (£500) if people lost
weight.
 GPs to call up all people between 40 and 74 for a health consultation. If these people are overweight
they will be prescribed weight management and exercise programmes. 2.25 million people will be called
up every year and a repeat consultation arranged every 5 years.
 Educate people on a healthy life style through advertising campaigns. NHS spent £500,000 on two TV
adverts warning children against having an unhealthy life style.
 NHS staff have been targeted to lose weight to set an example to the general public.
Private Sector
 Many major firms in the food industry have signed up to the Change4Life campaign.
 Tesco and Asda have signed up to offer promotions on healthy food which could include cut price
vegetables and fruit.
 Some food companies label their products with the Guided Daily Amounts (GDA) compared with what the
product contains.
 Some food companies use the traffic light system on their products.
 Pizza Hut and Burger King to display calories contained in their meals.
Individual
 They must make the conscious effort to try and change their life style and educate thereself
into the dangerous of obesity for their health