Obesity in UK leads to 'fat man of Europe' status

A report issued this month revealed that one-quarter of men and women in England are obese--a problem that is being called the UK's biggest health crisis.

"Measuring Up: The medical profession’s prescription for the nation’s obesity crisis," revealed data from the 2009-2011 Health Survey, finding that the rate of morbidly obese adults is skyrocketing and that clear steps need to be taken to remedy the situation. It has dubbed the UK "fat man of Europe."

Main findings

The report outlined several key recommendations that can help health professionals and policy makers prevent the further exacerbation of the diabetes epidemic facing the UK. Among these recommendations were: education and training programs for healthcare professionals, weight management programs, nutritional standards for food in hospitals and schools, bans on junk food advertising past 9pm and taxes on sugary drinks.

The report also recommends that food manufacturers agree on a unified process of food labeling so that nutritional information is clearly labeled for consumers. More public "green spaces" were also encouraged, where residents can enjoy outdoor parks and trails to maintain healthy lifestyles.

Next steps

The report presented information that was aimed to address both the seriousness of the obesity crisis while also acknowledging what is realistic for UK healthcare providers.

"This report does not pretend to have all the answers. But it does say we need together to do more, starting right now, before the problem becomes worse and the NHS can no longer cope," said the Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health was quoted by The Guardian saying that they were "considering the report's findings."

Source: NHS