According to an analysis, Britain’s obesity issue is responsible for a cost of nearly £100 billion annually. This has led to demands for the government to take action against unhealthy food and encourage the consumption of fresh ingredients.
Henry Dimbleby, the former food adviser for the government, stated that the increasing prevalence of obesity is a major public health crisis, as demonstrated by the rising expenses.
According to the Tony Blair Institute, there has been a significant increase in costs from £58 billion in 2020 to £98 billion. The expenses for individuals affected rose from £45.2 billion to £63.1 billion per year, while the costs for the NHS increased from £10.8 billion to £19.2 billion, as reported by Frontier Economics in their analysis for the thinktank.
The largest increase in proportion was seen in the overall costs to society. These have skyrocketed from £2.1 billion to £15.6 billion, primarily due to the loss of productivity caused by a record number of 2.4 million people being unable to work due to being overweight or living with obesity.
The costs have increased since Frontier’s previous analysis, as the newer one takes into account the value of lost health caused by illness or weight-related disease.
According to Dimbleby, Rishi Sunak has shown no interest in addressing the issue of obesity and has made the mistake of focusing on eliminating smoking instead of promoting healthy eating. Last year, Dimbleby released a plan commissioned by the government to significantly improve the eating habits in Britain and reduce the consumption of foods that contribute to deadly diseases.
Dimbleby spoke at a nutrition conference at the Royal Society on Monday, stating that the prime minister seems to prioritize addressing smoking over food due to personal preferences. This is despite smoking being a declining issue, while food remains a significant health concern. The reason for this, according to Dimbleby, is the prime minister’s preference for Coke.
Dimbleby, a co-founder of the Leon restaurant chain, said food was a direct cause of three of the four main illnesses that are stopping the 2.4 million from working – type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and musculoskeletal conditions – and exacerbated the other, mental ill-health.
Dimbleby urged for government involvement in regulating diet, citing the fact that British citizens spend £3.9bn annually on confectionery compared to only £2.2bn on fruits and vegetables. He also highlighted that 85% of the food being consumed would be considered too unhealthy by the World Health Organization to be advertised towards children.
To improve overall health and break the habit of consuming unhealthy foods, individuals must increase their intake of fruits and vegetables by 30%, fiber by 50%, and decrease consumption of high-fat, high-salt, and high-sugar foods by 25%. The speaker also called for government action to promote cooking skills in schools, close the gap between those who can cook from scratch and those who cannot, and reduce reliance on pre-made meals.
Approximately 66% of adults are categorized as either overweight or obese. According to Dimbleby, it is misguided to solely rely on weight loss medications to address type 2 diabetes. Instead, the government should focus on regulating the food industry and encouraging the consumption of fresh, healthy foods. He also expressed concern about the potential scenario where up to one-third of British citizens could be dependent on drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, calling it “dystopian.”
According to Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, the significant rise in costs to £98bn is particularly noteworthy because it now includes the value of lost health due to illness and disease. This increase occurred despite the government’s plan to address obesity, which has not been implemented successfully.
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“Three decades ago, 50% of the population struggled with excess weight or obesity, but now that number has increased to two-thirds. During this time, our food landscape has drastically transformed into one that promotes obesity. Our genetic makeup has not changed, but we are constantly exposed to unhealthy food choices through various mediums such as television, stores, and our daily surroundings.”
If we only focus on treating individuals without addressing the underlying causes of their illness, we will end up spending a significant amount of money in the NHS with minimal long-term improvements.
Source: theguardian.com
