Obesity rates 2050
Statistics suggest that in 2050 50% of the population will be obese.
It is claimed that by 2050 half the population of the United Kingdom will be obese. This is a frightening statistic for Government, health professionals and individuals. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has stated that Obesity can contribute to a range of problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and some cancers. 1
Obesity is caused by primarily eating too much and doing little or no physical activity. Obesity develops over time, we don’t wake up one morning suddenly obese, it happens slowly and once established has a detrimental effect on our health. The definition of obesity is a term used to describe someone who is very overweight with a high degree of body fat. 2
There are a number of factors as to why we become obese; lifestyle choices are one of them. Lack of exercise is another key factor. We live in a world where we are surrounded by convenience foods and takeaways are on every street corner, we are constantly tempted by leaflets and advertising. We are a very busy nation and the thought of having an ‘easy, quick, no fuss meal’ appeals to us. There is also the issue of lack of exercise. Do we have time? According to the Foresight Project Report (2007) the current prevalence of obesity in the United Kingdom population is mainly caused by people’s suppressed natural vulnerability mixed with a changing environment that includes more inactive lifestyles and increased dietary abundance. 3
Of course this does not mean the whole of the United Kingdom are overweight or obese, or that the whole of the United Kingdom does little or no exercise but statistics show it is increasing and by 2050 60% of men and 50% of women could be clinically obese. Without action, obesity-related diseases will cost an extra £45.5 billion per year. 3
Although it is very difficult to predict the future and to say that by 2050 over 50% of the
It is claimed that by 2050 half the population of the United Kingdom will be obese. This is a frightening statistic for Government, health professionals and individuals. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has stated that Obesity can contribute to a range of problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and some cancers. 1
Obesity is caused by primarily eating too much and doing little or no physical activity. Obesity develops over time, we don’t wake up one morning suddenly obese, it happens slowly and once established has a detrimental effect on our health. The definition of obesity is a term used to describe someone who is very overweight with a high degree of body fat. 2
There are a number of factors as to why we become obese; lifestyle choices are one of them. Lack of exercise is another key factor. We live in a world where we are surrounded by convenience foods and takeaways are on every street corner, we are constantly tempted by leaflets and advertising. We are a very busy nation and the thought of having an ‘easy, quick, no fuss meal’ appeals to us. There is also the issue of lack of exercise. Do we have time? According to the Foresight Project Report (2007) the current prevalence of obesity in the United Kingdom population is mainly caused by people’s suppressed natural vulnerability mixed with a changing environment that includes more inactive lifestyles and increased dietary abundance. 3
Of course this does not mean the whole of the United Kingdom are overweight or obese, or that the whole of the United Kingdom does little or no exercise but statistics show it is increasing and by 2050 60% of men and 50% of women could be clinically obese. Without action, obesity-related diseases will cost an extra £45.5 billion per year. 3
Although it is very difficult to predict the future and to say that by 2050 over 50% of the