In an eloquent statement Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard was quoted as being "particularly concerned about the impact of poor diet, nutrition and lack of physical activity in young people, especially in communities with high social and economic deprivation." I think this sums things up very well !
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| We need to see the back of obesity ? |
Apparently around one in four adults in the UK is now classified as overweight and I was amazed to discover that 8,800 people had weight loss surgery in the UK in 2010-11. The UK is the 'fattest' country in Europe. The number of obese adults is forecast to rise by 73% over the next 20 years to 26 million people, resulting in several million extra cases of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
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| OECD - past and predicted overweight rates |
Tour the shelves of any of the big supermarkets and you'll have little trouble in filling up a trolley-load that is guaranteed to bring a bulge to your waist-line and clog-up your arteries.
Unfortunately while Government ministers are keen to talk about the need for "efficiencies" in NHS spending they seem reluctant to reduce health problems and costs by acting decisively on the root cause of them. Their latest pronouncement on obesity involves a "pledge" that the food producers and retailers can sign up to if they so wish. The press release can't disguise the reality that its not much more than an opportunity for the big players to launch some new "low calorie" brands, which will no doubt be more expensive than their "normal" calorie range.
What have politicians really done to address the food industry's penchant for flogging high fat, sugary food to the masses ? Nothing that I'm aware of. Could it be that some of them have pretty close ties with said food industry and the supermarkets in particular ?
So Department of Health how about some genuine action to help reshape our citizens for the better? Lets have legislation to force supermarkets and other major food retailers to remove the most unhealthy products, make unhealthy food more expensive and for starters compel them to make the labelling of food products clearer and consistent ?
Want to know more ?
Department of Health Obesity page
OECD Obesity and the economics of prevention
Healthhabits How fat is your country ?
NHS choices - Obesity
Another interesting read. Although I believe to a certain extent, people should be able to make up their own mind about what fatty rubbish they choose to clog their arteries with. A better alternative might be better education e.g. teaching children how to make quick, easy and healthy meals. I remember being marked in my food technology lessons a couple of years ago for making a six layered dessert filled with chocolate, cream and sweets......
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