The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Obesity crisis risking eyesight of young adults – Fife study
OVERWEIGHT: Research by academics shows high BMI can lead to eye condition
Scotland’s obesity epidemic could be damaging the eyesight of young adults, according to new research by NHS Fife and St Andrews University.
The paper, published in the Scottish Medical Journal, reported on all patients presenting to NHS Fife over a 12-month period with a condition called Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), which typically affects young overweight females.
Headaches are the most common symptom and are caused by high pressure within the brain which can damage the nerves of sight leading to a small number of patients developing irreversible sight loss.
Dr Andrew Blaikie, senior lecturer in the School of Medicine at St Andrews University and consultant ophthalmologist with NHS Fife, oversaw the project.
He said: “Scotland has one of the worst records for obesity in the developed world and the prevalence of obesity in Fife is higher than the Scottish average.
“We are in the midst of an obesity epidemic and if this continues we will see IIH becoming more common, increasing the risk of a small but significant number of young people losing vision.”
Dr Colin Goudie, ophthalmology registrar at the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, who conducted the research, said: “The incidence of IIH in Fife was significantly higher than previous estimates and we believe this is due to the high levels of obesity in the region.
“We found that the incidence of IIH in Fife was between two and six times higher than previously reported from other studies performed in similarly developed nations.”
In 2017, 65% of the adult population in Scotland were recorded as being overweight with 29% being clinically obese.
The major risk factor for developing IIH is being overweight and, in the Fife study, more than three-quarters were clinically obese, with all the rest being overweight.
No one of normal health weight presented with the condition, with all those affected being female except one.
Dr Blaikie added: “As being overweight is the cause of the disease the primary treatment is to lose weight and achieve a normal BMI.
“This can be augmented with medicines and sometimes surgery to prevent any long-term damage to sight and improve symptoms of headache.
“However, a group of patients exist who can still develop rapidly progressive and permanent vision loss despite prompt treatment.”
“Scotland has one of the worst records for obesity in the developed world and the prevalence of obesity in Fife is higher than the Scottish average. DR ANDREW BLAIKIE
Most Scots are well aware that obesity can lead to the development of a whole host of issues such as heart disease, stroke and kidney problems. Now new research has shown overweight young adults could also be damaging their eyesight.
The link is not immediately clear, but it appears high pressure within the brain causes the problem.
In the most extreme cases patients have even developed irreversible sight loss.
One might fondly imagine that the findings would result in many people already classed as obese being encouraged to shed some pounds.
Sadly, the number of scare stories already out there – not to mention the enormous burden being placed on the NHS – has not been enough to convince some of the benefits of healthy eating and regular exercise.
It all leaves one wondering just what it will take to make people change their habits.
As with excessive drinking and smoking, one could hardly say people are not well warned of the potential dangers of over-indulging.
In keeping with many health issues, the primary treatment is to lead a healthy lifestyle and work towards an appropriate BMI.
The new research is certainly interesting and worthwhile – whether or not it encourages people to change their ways remains to be seen.