BLOATED BRITAIN

NHS swamped by an extra 100,000 obese patients a year in hospital

HOSPITAL admissions for obesity soared by almost 100,000 last year as experts warned that overweight patients are putting an intolerable strain on the NHS.

A record 710,562 people were hospitalised with obesity-related conditions in England, up 15 per cent from 617,000 a year earlier.

Two thirds were women, and one in nine were pregnant. Women also had four out of five weight-loss operations.

Experts said the ‘frightening’ increase meant hospital beds were ‘jammed up by fat people’ as the obesity epidemic plunged the overstretched Health Service into deeper crisis.

NHS Digital figures show that nearly one in three adults is obese, as well as one in five children in their final year of primary school.

During the past decade there has been a 778 per cent increase in the number of hospital admissions for conditions linked to excess weight, such as arthritis of the knee or hip, heart disease and gallstones.

NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said: ‘This is the latest evidence that obesity is causing deadly diseases including 13 types of cancer, heart attacks, strokes and type 2 diabetes, while putting increasing strain on NHS staff and services. It’s clearly time for manufacturers and retailers to protect children and young people by making further reductions in junk calories and excess sugar and salt quietly being added to processed food and drink.’

Out of 710,562 hospital admissions, obesity was the main diagnosis for 10,660, of whom three quarters were women.

Carrying excess weight during pregnancy was linked to 86,269 admissions, with obese women at higher risk of foetal problems, miscarriage and prolonged labour. Almost half of women attending their first GP appointment during pregnancy are deemed too fat.

Obesity costs the Health Service in England £6.1billion a year, and campaigners warned that this figure would keep rising unless tougher obesity measures were introduced.

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said: ‘These figures are truly depressing.

‘A significant number of patients are jamming up hospital beds just because they are fat.

‘People who desperately need operations are denied beds while others are in hospital because of their size, which is perfectly preventable.

‘This must act as a wake-up call. Unless there is a concerted effort by the Government, these figures will tragically continue to rise.’

The annual NHS obesity report revealed yesterday that the number of obese adults stands at 29 per cent – a 3 per cent rise since last year.

Meanwhile, one in five children are obese in Year Six, at 11, as well as almost one in ten fouryear-olds when they start school.

The NHS says children aged five to 18 should do at least one hour of physical activity every day, but only 14 per cent of girls and 20 per cent of boys meet this target.

More than a fifth of adult men and women are physically inactive. Just 18 per cent of children eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, compared to 29 per cent of adults.

Public Health Minister, Seema Kennedy said: ‘This data shines a light on the devastating consequences of obesity, both for individuals

‘Jamming up beds because they are fat’