Obesity admissions putting pressure on health services

Obesity related hospital admissions in Peterborough have soared over the last three years, the latest figures show.

More patients are being admitted for knee and hip replacements due to their weight, as well as other obesity related conditions. There were 1,319 admissions in 2016-17 where obesity was the main or secondary diagnosis. That’s an increase of 561, or 74 per cent, from 2013-14, when NHS Digital first started compiling the data for local authorities. Examples of obesity being the main cause for a hospital admission include weight related knee replacements, while secondary diagnoses, where obesity is a contributing factor, can be forms of cancer and heart conditions. Caroline Cerny, Obesity Health Alliance lead, said the figures were very concerning.

“As weight increases, so do the chances of developing serious life threatening conditions like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer,” she explained. “Dealing with rising levels of disease is putting an unsustainable strain on our already overstretched health service.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman commented: “There’s no doubt that obesity fuels disease and puts pressure on the NHS.

“That’s why we’re working with industry to make food healthier and funding research into the root causes of obesity, but we have not ruled out doing more in the future if the right results aren’t seen.”