Obesity in the UK
During last 25 years, the rate of obesity in adults has quadrupled in the UK.
In England, 43% of men and 34% of women were classified as overweight and 22% of men and 23 % of women were classified as clinically obese.
This means that over half of all adults weigh more than their recommended weight.
(OECD 2005)
Link between diet and ill health
Obesity can lead to a variety of health problems.
These include:
•high blood pressure
•coronary heart disease
•osteoarthritis
•diabetes
A National Audit Office Study from 2002 estimated that obesity cost the NHS £500 million a year and the cost to the country overall has been put at up to £7.4 billion per annum.
1998, news report in the Herald newspaper described the increase in the number of diabetes cases caused by bad diet as ‘’the diabetes time bomb’
Between now and 2010, the number of Type 11 diabetes sufferers will increase from 1 to 3 million.
– Too many cakes and biscuits.
– Fizzy drinks
– Fatty diet
– Not enough exercise
‘’‘’Diabetes could bankrupt the NHS’’Diabetes could bankrupt the NHS’’
Causes
1998 news report in the Herald newspaper described the increase in the number of diabetes cases caused by bad diet as ‘’the diabetes time bomb’.
Between now and 2010, the number of Type II diabetes sufferers will increase from 1 to 3 million.
– Too many cakes and biscuits
– Fizzy drinks
– Fatty diet
– Not enough exercise
‘’‘’Diabetes could bankrupt the NHS’’.Diabetes could bankrupt the NHS’’.
Fast Food Industry
Fast Food Industry
is the fastest growing
is the fastest growing
area of food
area of food
retailing and is
retailing and is
worth £3b a year
worth £3b a year
in sales.in sales.
More females are obese than males.
In females, obesity levels are increasing amongst the less well off but remain the same for the better off.In males, obesity levels are increasing amongst both socio-economic groups.
Obesity is a gender issue (Report of the Measuring
Inequalities in Health Working Group (Scotland), November 2003)
Obesity levels are higher the lower the social class.
Social class I – 10% are obese.
Obesity levels in the lowest social class are similar to those in the
USA.
Social class IV – 20% are obese
Social class V – 25% are obese.
Obesity is also a class issue (Report of the
Measuring Inequalities in Health Working Group (Scotland), November 2003)
Most affluent group: No daily
fruit
Females: 31%
Males: 45%
Least affluent group: No daily
fruit
Females: 55%
Males: 69%
Differences in diet between social classes and genders
Graphs show that: The percentage of people in the least affluent group who do not eat
fresh fruit on a daily basis is much higher than in the more affluent group.
Consumption of fruit and vegetables is higher amongst females in both groups.
Consumption of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis has increased generally but the increase has been higher in the more affluent group.
Males in the least affluent group have made little progress.
Most affluent group who do not eat fruit
daily
Females: 31%
Males: 45%
Least affluent group who do not eat fruit
daily Females: 55%
Males: 69%
Condition A B C1 C2 D E
Heart 67 90 77 95 117 134
Respiratory 56 58 64 71 80 102
Digestive 30 34 32 42 53 70
Musculoskeletal 98 132 141 163 187 235
Incidence of Chronic Illness by Social Class Incidence of Chronic Illness by Social Class
(per 10,000 of population) 1999(per 10,000 of population) 1999
Income decreasesIncome decreases
Link between diet, social classand ill health (Report of the Measuring Inequalities in Health Working Group (Scotland), November 2003)
the highest rates of mortality in the Western world
the highest morbidity rates from coronary heart disease, cancer and stroke
poor dental record.
The James Report
In 1993, a Government Working Party produced the ‘James Report’ on Scotland’s diet.
The Report confirmed Scotland’s poor eating habits and identified it as one of the main causes of Scotland’s poor health record. Poor diet was the reason why Scotland had:
1 in 8 children in Scotland are officially overweight.
Scottish boys are the fattest in Europe.
Almost 100% ate sweets every day.
75% ate crisps and fizzy drinks as snacks every day.
24% of 15 year olds in the West of Scotland eat 4 or more snacks a day.
28% of adults eat fresh fruit and 20% eat fresh vegetables once a week or less.
17% of adults in the district of Renfrew eat less than one full meal a day.
Scotland - the facts!
The average Scottish diet is:
deficient in fibre and certain vitamins
contains too much sugar
contains too much salt
contains too much saturated fat.
deficient in fruit and vegetables
The James Report
3-4 portions offruit and vegetables
per day
75% should eat fishtwice a week and
meat less than twicea week
Cereals, granarybread twice a day
Most shouldconsume semi-skimmed milk
Sweets and cakeconsumption
shouldbe reduced
Disadvantaged should
be helped tofollow a good
diet
The James ReportRecommendations
Ban food advertson children’s TV
Minimum age atwhich children
can leave school atlunchtime
Stop sale of sweets,salty snacks, fizzydrinks in schools
No junkfood outletsnear schools
Scandinavia has already banned food adverts on children’s TV.
Arguments: limits choice?‘Nanny state’ gone mad?
More controversial More controversial recommendationsrecommendations
The James ReportRecommendations
Benefits to Health ofRegular Exercise
25% of strokes could be avoided and there could be a
20% reduction in mortality after a heart attack, if regular exercise was taken
Yet, according to a Scottish Yet, according to a Scottish Health Survey (‘’Working Towards Health Survey (‘’Working Towards a Healthier Scotland, 1999’’)a Healthier Scotland, 1999’’)
62% of women53% of men
do not get enough regular exercise do not get enough regular exercise andand
26% of women 23% of men
do not get any regular exercise.do not get any regular exercise.
55-64
0 25 50 75
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
65-74
PercentagePercentageAge groupAge group
Percentage of peopletaking NO exercise ((‘’Working Towards a Healthier Scotland, (‘’Working Towards a Healthier Scotland, 1999’’)1999’’)
by age
32%32%
33%33%
35%35%
43%43%
0 25 50
AB
C1
C2
DE
42%42%
30%30%
Women
Men
0 25
Percentage of peopletaking NO exercise (‘’Working Towards a Healthier Scotland, 1999’’)‘’Working Towards a Healthier Scotland, 1999’’)
by social classby social class
by genderby gender