Link[1] Foresight Report - Reducing obesity: future choices
Author: Bryony Butland et al. - Government Office for Science
Publication info: 2007 October, 17
Cited by: David Price 9:25 AM 28 July 2014 GMT
Citerank: (28) 340964Tackling obesity in the UKWith concern growing that the Foresight analysis—that 50% of the UK population could be obese by 2050, at an annual cost to the nation of around £50 billion per year [2]—substantially underestimates the scale of the unfolding obesity crisis, the College of Contemporary Health is working with the wider policy community to develop a whole systems map of the obesity crisis and the potential responses.7F1CEB7, 348675Adopt a whole systems approach to obesityTackling obesity effectively—accomplishing a population wide-shift—requires a comprehensive and integrated whole systems approach, involving a range of measures focusing on individuals, social and other systems, including at the local and community level, and on the interrelated physical, physiological, social and cognitive factors that determine health outcomes.565CA4D9, 348688Impacts of obesityObesity presents a significant threat to the health of the UK population and a significant drain on the nation's financial resources. 24.9% of adults in England are obese—with a body mass index of over 30—62% of adults are either overweight or obese (with a BMI of over 25), and 32% of 10–11-year-olds are overweight or obese. The annual cost of obesity to the UK is estimated to be £27bn–£46bn [1], [2]; although international comparisons suggest that the true cost could be significantly higher.57DE7179, 348693Stakeholders – Groups & ActionsExplore the map via the different stakeholder groups and the measures each group can take to help tackle the obesity crisis.58D3ABAB, 348767A potentially unsustainable financial burden on the health systemThe range of obesity's impacts makes accurate economic analysis challenging; however, a November 2014 study from the McKinsey Global Institute placed the annual economic impact on the UK at around $73bn (£46bn). Earlier analysis and modelling for the 2007 Foresight Report suggested a cost to the NHS of around £4.2bn annually to treat people with health problems related to elevated BMI and a total wider cost to the economy of around £15.8bn (rising to £27bn by 2015 and £49.9bn by 2050).57DE7179, 348770Tackling obesityMany policy interventions have been suggested to address the obesity crisis across multiple studies—and indeed many such measures have been implemented, and are being implemented, now. There's recognition too that these interventions need to be part of a coherent and comprehensive whole systems strategy [4]; with some grounds for optimism that such an approach has the potential to accomplish a significant reduction in the prevalence of obesity in the UK across the next decade. [2]565CA4D9, 348775Modelling suggests the majority of UK population may be obese by 2050The prevalence of obesity in the UK more than doubled in the 25 years to 2007. In England, nearly a quarter of adults and about 10% of children were obese in 2007, with a further 20–25% of children overweight. The Foresight report extrapolated that 40% of Britons might be being obese by 2025, with Britain being a mainly obese society by 2050.1198CE71, 348776A profound impact on the health of the populationObesity is responsible for more than 9,000 premature deaths each year in England, reduces life expectancy on average by nine years, and is a major risk factor in wide range of serious health problems including Type 2 diabetes (5 x), cancer (3 x the risk of colon cancer), and heart disease (2.5 x).57DE7179, 348780Causes of obesityUnderstanding the causes of obesity is critical to the success of prevention and treatment strategies. However, while (simply put) obesity occurs when energy intake from food and drink consumption is greater than energy expenditure through the body’s metabolism and physical activity over a prolonged period (resulting in the accumulation of excess body fat), in reality many complex behavioural and societal factors contribute systemically to the current crisis and no single influence dominates.555CD992, 351674Inequality of impactAlthough obesity occurs across all population groups, it impacts disproportionately on the socially and economically disadvantaged and some ethnic minorities. [8]57DE7179, 352390Industrial way of life is obesogenicRapid societal changes—for example, in food production, motorised transport and work/home lifestyle patterns—have placed human physiology (which has evolved to cope with an under-supply of food and high energy expenditure) under new stresses, and revealed an underlying genetic tendency to accumulate and conserve energy (i.e. gain weight) in a high proportion of the population. In this sense, obesity can be construed as a normal physiological response to an abnormal environment.555CD992, 352390Industrial way of life is obesogenicRapid societal changes—for example, in food production, motorised transport and work/home lifestyle patterns—have placed human physiology (which has evolved to cope with an under-supply of food and high energy expenditure) under new stresses, and revealed an underlying genetic tendency to accumulate and conserve energy (i.e. gain weight) in a high proportion of the population. In this sense, obesity can be construed as a normal physiological response to an abnormal environment.555CD992, 365986Foresight – Obesity System MapObesity occurs when energy intake from food and drink consumption is greater than energy expenditure through the body’s metabolism and physical activity over a prolonged period, resulting in the accumulation of excess body fat. However there are many complex behavioural and societal factors that combine to contribute to the causes of obesity.7F1CEB7, 366467Encourage active transport (walking and cycling)Government authorities redesign urban planning to facilitate and encourage walking and cycling.565CA4D9, 366990What costs should be included in the financial analysis?What cost factors should be included in the assessment of the overall financial impact of obesity on the UK economy?8FFB597, 399546Tackling obesityMany policy interventions have been suggested to address the obesity crisis across multiple studies—and indeed many such measures have been implemented, and are being implemented, now. There's recognition too that these interventions need to be part of a coherent and comprehensive whole systems strategy [4]; with some grounds for optimism that such an approach has the potential to accomplish a significant reduction in the prevalence of obesity in the UK across the next decade. [2]565CA4D9, 399547Adopt a whole systems approach to obesityTackling obesity effectively—accomplishing a population wide-shift—requires a comprehensive and integrated whole systems approach, involving a range of measures focusing on individuals, social and other systems, including at the local and community level, and on the interrelated physical, physiological, social and cognitive factors that determine health outcomes.565CA4D9, 399557Involve all stakeholders in the process of changeReversing the rising trend and addressing the prospect of the rising health burden and societal costs will be demanding and will necessitate major changes in behaviour – not only in individuals, but also in families, communities, organisations and economic markets.565CA4D9, 399599Encourage active transport (walking and cycling)Government authorities redesign urban planning to facilitate and encourage walking and cycling.565CA4D9, 399887Causes of obesityUnderstanding the causes of obesity is critical to the success of prevention and treatment strategies. However, while (simply put) obesity occurs when energy intake from food and drink consumption is greater than energy expenditure through the body’s metabolism and physical activity over a prolonged period (resulting in the accumulation of excess body fat), in reality many complex behavioural and societal factors contribute systemically to the current crisis and no single influence dominates.555CD992, 399889Industrial way of life is obesogenicRapid societal changes—for example, in food production, motorised transport and work/home lifestyle patterns—have placed human physiology (which has evolved to cope with an under-supply of food and high energy expenditure) under new stresses, and revealed an underlying genetic tendency to accumulate and conserve energy (i.e. gain weight) in a high proportion of the population. In this sense, obesity can be construed as a normal physiological response to an abnormal environment.555CD992, 399889Industrial way of life is obesogenicRapid societal changes—for example, in food production, motorised transport and work/home lifestyle patterns—have placed human physiology (which has evolved to cope with an under-supply of food and high energy expenditure) under new stresses, and revealed an underlying genetic tendency to accumulate and conserve energy (i.e. gain weight) in a high proportion of the population. In this sense, obesity can be construed as a normal physiological response to an abnormal environment.555CD992, 399972Impacts of obesityObesity presents a significant threat to the health of the UK population and a significant drain on the nation's financial resources. 23% of adults are obese—with a body mass index of over 30—61% of adults are either overweight or obese (with a BMI of over 25), and 33% of 10–11-year-olds are overweight or obese. The annual cost of obesity to the UK economy has been estimated to be £27bn–£46bn [1], [2]; although international comparisons suggest that the true cost could be significantly higher.57DE7179, 399973A potentially unsustainable financial burden on the health systemThe range of obesity's impacts makes accurate economic analysis challenging; however, a November 2014 study from the McKinsey Global Institute placed the annual economic impact on the UK at around $73bn (£46bn). Earlier analysis and modelling for the 2007 Foresight Report suggested a cost to the NHS of around £4.2bn annually to treat people with health problems related to elevated BMI and a total wider cost to the economy of around £15.8bn (rising to £27bn by 2015 and £49.9bn by 2050).57DE7179, 399974A profound impact on the health of the populationObesity is responsible for more than 9,000 premature deaths each year in England, reduces life expectancy on average by nine years, and is a major risk factor in wide range of serious health problems including Type 2 diabetes (5 x), cancer (3 x the risk of colon cancer), and heart disease (2.5 x).57DE7179, 399978Modelling suggests the majority of UK population may be obese by 2050The prevalence of obesity in the UK more than doubled in the 25 years to 2007. In England, nearly a quarter of adults and about 10% of children were obese in 2007, with a further 20–25% of children overweight. The Foresight report extrapolated that 40% of Britons might be being obese by 2025, with Britain being a mainly obese society by 2050.1198CE71, 399980What costs should be included in the financial analysis?What cost factors should be included in the assessment of the overall financial impact of obesity on the UK economy?8FFB597, 399984Inequality of impactAlthough obesity occurs across all population groups, it impacts disproportionately on the socially and economically disadvantaged and some ethnic minorities. [8]57DE7179 URL:
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