Latest figures show areas with worst obesity problems

Latest figures have revealed one Kent area had the highest number of hospital admissions for obesity in the South East.

Information released for 2018/19 shows 120 people – equal to 44 per 100,000 – in Medway required urgent medical attention – up from 80 the previous year.

The Towns also had the region’s highest proportion of bariatric surgery – where changes are made to patients’ stomachs, such as the use of gastric bands.

The NHS Digital statistics show a total of 320 people in Kent and Medway were admitted for surgical procedures in 2018/19.

With 31 per 100,000 people, Swale was third overall for operations in the South East. Medway has 34 per 100,000.

The rest of the county saw numbers increase by 22% to 330 hospital admissions.

Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley had 80, West Kent, which includes Maidstone, had 70, Canterbury 30 and Ashford 25.

Traditionally areas with high levels of deprivation have more overweight people because of diet, exercise and lack of knowledge about healthy lifestyles.

However, Thanet, which has some of the poorest wards in Kent, did much better than Medway with 35 admissions, or 27 per 100,000 people.

Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council have responsibilities for dealing with the overweight and obese.

This includes promoting healthy eating and lifestyle changes.

KCC’s director of public health, Andrew Scott-Clark, said: “We support national initiatives such as Change4Life and One You, alongside community-based weight management programmes for adults and fun activity-based programmes for families with children and educational programmes in schools.

“From April 2018 to December 2019, the service received over 33,000 referrals.

“On average, each quarter, over 3,000 individuals are engaged in the service, from receiving health MOTs and NHS health checks to accessing smoking cessation service, weight-management programmes and health walks.”

Cllr David Brake is Medway Council’s cabinet member for public health and the chairman of the Medway Health and Wellbeing Board.

The council helps provide programmes for young people, adults and families as well as providing a “range of physical activity and healthy eating services”. Free swimming is available in Medway and the authority says it works with businesses to encourage healthier lifestyles and weight loss initiatives.

“We also support schools to promote healthy eating and use planning policy to create healthier environments for residents to live, work and study in,” Cllr Brake said.

The NHS delivers care for those who have more serious obesity-related needs when it is having a significant negative effect on their health.

This includes structured weight-management programmes as well as psychological support, with care being overseen by a senior doctor.

Patients are considered for bariatric surgery if they are continuing to struggle, having taken part in a weight loss programme.

Drug treatments are also available by prescription but data shows this has fallen in Kent and Medway in the latest 12 months. The NHS spent £257,915 on Orlistat – the UK’s only officially recognised drug treatment for obesity.

Some 11,666 prescriptions were issued in 2018/19, down from 12,640 the previous year. The highest number of prescriptions issued was in the West Kent area at 2,987. Medway was second with 2,132.

Orlistat works by reducing the digestion of fat in the digestive system, so that it passes through the body and is not absorbed.

For more, visit www. oneyoukent.org.uk to complete a referral form, call 0300 123 1220 or email oneyou.kent@nhs.uk

Andrew Scott-Clark