Obesity crisis could lead to collapse of NHS

Spending on drugs and devices for the condition, which affects 13 million adults, rises to £1bn a year

THE NHS could collapse under the strain of Britain’s weight problem, experts have warned, as research shows that 13 million adults are now classed as obese.

A report warns of a doubling in obesity levels in two decades, with record numbers being treated for type 2 diabetes. It follows reports that the numbers being treated in hospital for obesity-related conditions have risen by nearly one quarter in a year.

Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, has warned that the “startling” trends could cut short thousands of lives.

The number of obese adults in England has risen from 6.9million in 1997 to around 13million in 2017, the report shows.

The analysis, by Diabetes UK, warns that 29 per cent of adults and 20 per cent of children leaving primary school are obese.

Obesity is the most significant driver for new cases of type 2 diabetes, accounting for up to 85 per cent of risk.

The condition can cause serious health complications, which can lead to blindness and amputations.

One in 10 patients admitted to hospital are suffering from the condition and an eighth of all NHS drug spending is now devoted to treatment of the condition, with the bill for anti-diabetes medication rising by 220 per cent in the past decade.

Total spending on devices and drugs for the condition has reached more than £1billion a year, figures show.

The charity Diabetes UK said Britain was facing an “urgent public health crisis”. An estimated 2.85million people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in England, and a further 850,000 have the condition but are unaware of it.

Chris Askew, the charity’s chief executive, said: “We’re facing an urgent public health problem. Tackling this requires ambitious and sustained action from national governments, across sectors and departments. That’s because, right now, it’s hard to be healthy.

“We will keep challenging government and industry to put in place regulations and practices that make healthy choices easier for everyone, including making food and drinks healthier, and addressing the marketing and promotion of unhealthy foods.

“Without action, more people will develop type 2 and gestational diabetes – but with more awareness, government action and the right investment and support, we can change this.” Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said: “Successive governments since the turn of the century have pledged to cut obesity to 2000 levels and all have failed catastrophically.”

He said there was “scant chance” that ambitions to halve childhood obesity by 2030 would be achieved, accusing politicians of failing to prioritise the issue.

“Unless it is tackled, and quickly, the NHS could itself collapse under the mounting costs required to deal with these conditions,” he said.

Data for the report were from the Health Survey for England, which found that in 2017, two in three adults in England were overweight or obese.

Some 40 per cent of men were overweight while a further 27 per cent were obese. Meanwhile, 31 per cent of women were overweight and a further 30 per cent were obese.

Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “Obesity is a dangerous public health threat that is already leading to 13 types of cancer, heart attacks and strokes, with these figures bringing another stark reminder of the scale of the obesity crisis.

“Over 400,000 people have been offered a place on the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme to prevent those at risk from developing type 2 diabetes in the first place.”