CitationsAdd new citationList by: CiterankMap Link[1] Tackling obesity: all talk, no action
Author: HOOP Publication info: 2014 March, 10 Cited by: David Price 8:40 AM 9 September 2014 GMT Citerank: (6) 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, 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, 349155HOOP UKHOOP UK aims to be the 'go to’ organisation in the UK for support for those struggling with the issues surrounding weight management and obesity.58D3ABAB, 399905Giving obesity a disproportionately low public health priority555CD992, 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 URL: | Excerpt / Summary 1 in 3 children and 2 in 3 adults are overweight and obese. The estimated annual cost of obesity to this country is £27bn which is very high considering the annual interest on our national debt are £43bn.
Key Findings
Based on the 109 local authorities that responded to the Freedom of Information request submitted by HOOP UK, it was identified that:
> 2.5% of the public health allocation was spent on weight management services
> 0.9% of the allocation was spent on children’s weight management services
> These allocations are extremely low compared to: Substance misuse (29%) Sexual Health (21%) and Smoking (5%)
This disparity is more problematic when the direct and indirect costs of each public health issue are considered: Obesity (£6.1bn (direct) and £27bn (indirect); Drugs misuse (£488m and £14.9bn); Alcohol misuse(£3.5bn and £21bn) and sexual health (£1.5bn and £14.1bn) respectively. |
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