20 Jul 2015

obesity doubles in just four years: More than 530,000 admissions a year caused by a person's weight


Carrying too much excess weight increases the risk of up to 10 different types of cancer, including cancers of the breast and bowel
Number of patients admitted to hospital because they are obese doubled
Average 530,000 admissions per year are related to people being too fat 
In UK one in four adults and a fifth of children are now classed as obese
Around 18,000 cases of cancer each year in UK related to excess weight
The number of patients who have been admitted to hospital because they are obese has doubled in just four years - with an average 530,000 admissions per year being related to weight issues.
The figures, released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, reveal the extent of the fat epidemic in the UK, where one in four adults and a fifth of children are now classed as obese - compared to just one in every seven back in 1990. 
The Sun reports that one in every 34 NHS admissions are now the direct result of people being too fat and claims experts believe the obesity crisis is costing the NHS at least £30billion a year - almost a third of its annual budget.
The figures include admissions for hearts attacks, chest pain, sleep problems and arthritis.
However they do not include other potentially life-threatening conditions linked with obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and some types of cancer.
The figures reveal the extent of the fat epidemic in the UK, where one in four adults and a fifth of children are now classed as obese - compared to just one in every seven back in 1990 (file picture)
The figures reveal the extent of the fat epidemic in the UK, where one in four adults and a fifth of children are now classed as obese - compared to just one in every seven back in 1990 (file picture)
The figures include admissions for hearts attacks, chest pain, sleep problems and arthritis.
However they do not include other potentially life-threatening conditions linked with obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and some types of cancer.
Carrying too much excess weight increases the risk of up to 10 different types of cancer, including cancers of the breast and bowel. 
Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, told The Sun: 'This is proof fat people are clogging up the NHS and ruining its finances.
Carrying too much excess weight increases the risk of up to 10 different types of cancer, including cancers of the breast and bowel
Carrying too much excess weight increases the risk of up to 10 different types of cancer, including cancers of the breast and bowel
'Treating obese patients comes with a heavy price tag the Health Service can no longer afford.'
Last year Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, warned that obesity is a ‘slow-motion car crash’ which could bankrupt the NHS
Mr Stevens said the problem is now more deadly than smoking and is causing millions of people to suffer life-long illness and disability.
He also revealed that – absurdly – the NHS is spending far more on drastic weight loss surgery than trying to prevent the problem in the first place.  
Last week MailOnline reported that in just one year more than 650 obese patients needed firefighters using specialist equipment, including winches, cranes and animal harnesses to help move them.
Between April 2014 and 2015 British fire and rescue services responded to 657 calls to help emergency services to lift patients weighing up to 60 stone.
Meanwhile, last week the British Medical Association reignited calls for a sugar tax of 20 per cent to be introduced to combat the nation's spiralling obesity epidemic.
A study published in the British Medical Journal backed the idea for a sugar tax.
It estimated that a 20 per cent tax would lead to a reduction in the prevalence of obesity in the UK of 1.3 per cent - around 180,000 people.
And researchers highlighted the greatest impact would be seen among young people.
The authors wrote: 'Taxation of sugar-sweetened drinks is a promising population measure to target population obesity, particularly among younger adults.' 
But the Food and Drink Federation has also argued against the tax, claiming it would hit the poorest families at a time when they can least afford it. 
The BMA, which represents 153,000 doctors, is also seeking a ban on advertising unhealthy food and drink around children's television programmes and an end to the marketing of sweets by children's TV characters.

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