Health experts demand urgent government action to tackle obesity crisis
Obesity Crisis
Health Experts Demand Urgent Government Action To Tackle Obesity Crisis.
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Chris Witty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, recently gave a speech about public health in which he highlighted the risks posed by the increasing obesity crisis in the UK and what needs to be done to address it. Currently, more than half of all UK adults (63%) are classed as being overweight or obese, which equates to over 35 million people. This places a huge burden on the individual, society, the economy and the health service, with obesity being a factor in more than 1 million hospital admissions per year and currently costs the NHS £4.2 billion, which, without urgent and radical action, will rise to £10 billion by 2050.
The recent Covid crisis has helped to highlight the potential health risks of obesity. For example, for people with a BMI of 35 to 40, the risk of death from COVID-19 increases by 40% and with a BMI over 40, by 90%, compared to non-obese patients. Additionally, very obese individuals (BMI 40+) were overrepresented in intensive care by approximately 300%.
However, the consequences of excessive body fat go far beyond Covid and include an increased risk of:
- All-causes of death (mortality)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease (gallstones, gallbladder inflammation)
- Pancreas (increased insulin, type 2 diabetes)
- Bones (osteoarthritis and gout)
- Kidney problems (renal cancer, kidney stones)
- Bladder problems (cancer, bladder control issues)
- Sleep apnoea and breathing problems including asthma, mechanical ventilator constraints
- Certain cancers (endometrial, breast, colon, kidney, gallbladder, prostate, and liver)
- Menstrual irregularities
- Complications with pregnancy
- Problems receiving anaesthetics
- Mental illness such as clinical depression, anxiety, and low esteem
- Body pain and difficulty with physical functioning
- Low quality of life (social stigmatisation and discrimination)
- Premature death
Obesity Crisis
Although we work with many highly conditioned athletes across a variety of sports, here at Time 4 Nutrition we understand how difficult it can be to lose weight. Although in theory this should be relatively straight forward, it has become increasingly difficult recently due to the vast amounts of conflicting advice now presented in the media, much of which has little, if any, scientific basis. This can lead to confusion regarding what we should eat and what is the most effective form of exercise for losing body fat.
We also understand that losing weight typically involves changing behaviour, which can be a considerable challenge for many people and ultimately contributes to their failure to achieve their desired results. To address this, we have produced a series of articles that will help you to achieve healthy levels of body fat using the most effective and appropriate evidence-based approaches, including advice on the psychological aspects of weight loss from a PhD psychologist. You can access all of this high-quality information for free here: https://www.time4nutrition.co.uk/articles/
Why not give it a try? You’ve got nothing to lose but fat.