DOCTOR’S WARNING ON HEALTH CRISIS
Professor Chris Oliver says the country’s weight problem has now reached a “tipping point” and that attempts to reverse the worrying trend have been too slow.
The professor of physical activity at Edinburgh University has joined colleagues in a call for drastic action to be taken.
He said: “Obesity is the norm now. Two-thirds of the population are obese and that’s sad.
“It may never be possible to turn this around. We may have got to a tipping point where we can’t turn this back.”
Fresh efforts are being made to get the country’s waistline back into shape. An increase in parking charges – making it more difficult for motorists to travel into cities – and a sugar tax have been suggested as ways to curb the crisis.
But Prof Oliver, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon who once lost 12st, says there is a lack of political will behind the initiatives.
Prof Oliver and colleagues have written to Holyrood’s health commit tee with a range of recommendations on how to combat obesit y – including restricting the avai labi lity of high fat, salt and sugary food.
The Scottish Government are due to respond this month and will begin consultation on a new strategy this year.
Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole Hamilton said obesity costs Scotland’s NHS £ 600million per year. He added: “It’s time we took steps and were led by experts who have been calling for this for years.”
Publ ic Health Minister Ai leen Campbell said: “We recognise we need a shift in emphasis f rom dea l i n g w i t h t he consequences to tackling the underlying causes – such as ending poverty, fair wages, supporting fami l ies and improving our physical and social environments.”