Obesity is responsible for 9,000 premature deaths a year in England. It reduces life expectancy by, on average, 9 years. The Department of Health’s Change4Life campaign also advises that after quitting smoking, keeping a healthy body weight is one of the best ways to reduce your chances of getting cancer.

With all these home truths, why are so many people ignoring the real cost that obesity can have on their health?

Leading dietitian and Head of Weight Management Services at The Hospital Group, Cirian Marie-Beddoes, said: “One of the most prevalent health issues for the obese is diabetes. 2.5 million people in the UK suffer from Diabetes and a great proportion of those with Type 2 could be cured if they lost their excess weight. “Obesity is recognised as the main factor in contracting Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to further complications such as foot ulceration, nepthropathy, retinopathy and heart disease – all with serious risks and discomfort for the patient, but also costly to treat.”

Research published by the American Journal for Medicine showed that following obesity surgery, 87% of type 2 diabetics either saw a complete cure or improvement.

Cirian added: “We are in a recession, but eating out has become the norm – the team of dietitians at The Hospital Group find that obese families think nothing of popping out for all-you-can eat pizza or Chinese on a regular basis. “This is the root of the problem. People who maintain a clinically obese body weight have a habit of consuming body-builder levels of calories and of course that has to change with a restricted calorie intake. “But it’s also a case of looking at what makes up a person’s diet. You can consume 1,000 high-quality calories and blossom or the same number of calories in junk food and you’ll be ill.”

Via EPR Network
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