HEART ATTACKS & STROKES TO RISE BY 30%
Obesity surge to push up number of type 2 diabetes sufferers who are more at risk
THE number of heart attacks and strokes is to soar by 30%, experts say.
Rising obesity is creating more type 2 diabetes patients who are at greater risk.
The British Heart Foundation said: “We can reverse this only by taking action to tackle obesity and inactivity.”
CAMPAIGNERS want the food industry to speed up changes over concerns that the UK diabetes epidemic will accelerate over 20 years.
It is estimated 39,000 people living with type 2 diabetes will suffer a heart attack in 2035, a rise of up to 30% or 9,000 on 2015.
And more than 50,000 people will have a stroke, a rise of 11,000 and a similar percentage, British Heart Foundation data shows.
Angina and heart failure are also forecast to increase.
Simon Gillespie, BHF chief executive, insisted: “The food industry is not acting quickly enough to re-formulate products, despite evidence of their impact on health.”
The BHF said the numbers with diabetes in England could rise from four million to five million partly due to obesity.
Patients with type 2 diabetes are two to four times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
Mr Gillespie said: “We have made excellent progress in improving survival rates for heart attacks and strokes.
“But figures point to an extremely worrying trend.”
He wants advances now, adding: “We can reverse this trend only by taking bold action to tackle obesity and inactivity, especially among young people.
“It must include consideration of further regulatory action to cut sugar and fat content in food, and to curb junk food advertising.
“We also need continued research that will enable us to better understand how diabetes leads to heart and circulatory conditions.”
Diabetes patient Sarah Miles had to give up nursing after having a heart attack at the age of 38.
Sarah, 43, from Cheddar, Somerset, said: “Living with diabetes is difficult, but the heart attack led to heart failure which has severely limited my quality of life.
“To think these conditions are on the rise is extremely worrying, and people need to be aware.”
THE British Heart Foundation today issues an important health warning about the dangers of diabetes.
Unless we take action, there will be a sharp increase in heart attacks and strokes. The obesity crisis has fuelled the rise in Type 2 diabetes, putting extra pressure on the NHS.
Much more must be done to encourage people to eat better and take more exercise.
But responsibility also lies with food and drink companies that continue to pump out products high in fat, sugar and salt. It is time they put people’s health before profits.