What is Obesity?
Obesity is defined as the accumulation of excess fat in the body and this arises as a result of an imbalance between energy expenditure and energy intake. This has serious implications for health, as an obese person has a much greater risk of dying prematurely and developing chronic and potentially disabling diseases, the commonest being cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes and osteoarthritis. Morbid obesity may have serious implications for day to day functioning.
Background
- Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the world including the UK, being now the most common nutritional disorder worldwide and this rise in levels is predicted to continue.
- In 2000 the number of people in the world who were obese became greater than the number suffering from malnutrition.
- The obesity epidemic is also affecting developing countries and appears to be associated with economic development. However there is great variation in obesity levels within and between developed and developing countries and both obesity and malnutrition can co-exist in these countries.
- Obesity levels are generally higher in women than men, though there are exceptions to this. Obesity, although affecting almost all ages and socio- economic groups, affects the lower socio-economic groups more and this is believed to be related to patterns of behaviour in eating and taking exercise.
- Obesity has major implications throughout the world because of the impact of its medical, psychological, social and financial effects.
- The indirect costs of obesity for this and every country affected reflect the cost of mortality, morbidity, incapacity and unemployment.
The Growth of Obesity – England
- The prevalence of obesity has increased steadily in England over the last 30 years.
- Now 1 in 5 adults is obese.
- Since the 1980’s the proportion of obese people has trebled and obesity amongst children has trebled in 10 years.
- Currently over 60% of the adult population are overweight – and around 23.6% of men and 23.8% of women (that is, almost a quarter) are obese, whereas in 1980 the figures for obesity were 6% for men and 8% for women respectively.
- If the average rate of the increase in the prevalence of obesity continues, over a quarter of all adults in England will be obese by 2010.
- The average BMI (Body Mass Index) is well into the overweight range and approximately 2% of adults in the UK have a BMI over 40.
- The prevalence of obesity increases with age.
- There is a higher prevalence of obesity in some ethnic groups such as Black Caribbean and Pakistani women.
- The UK has one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe.
- In England, obesity is more prevalent in the lower socio- economic groups and also varies from area to area.
References:
- National Audit Office: “Tackling Obesity in England” Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General 15/02/2001.
- Research Brief “Obesity and Health” November, 2006.
- Health Survey for England 2004 data.
- OECD, in Health Profile of England, 2006.
- Health Profile for England, Department of Health, 2006.
- Economic and Social Research Council.
The Cost of Obesity – England
- The estimated human cost (2001):
- 18 million sick days a year,
- 30,000 deaths a year resulting in 40,000 lost years of working life,
- deaths linked to obesity shorten life on average by 9 years.
- The estimated costs to the economy (2002); A conservative estimate is £3.3 to £3.7 billion, not counting costs of possible co-morbidities such as coronary heart disease, back pain and depression.
Reference: National Audit Office “Tackling Obesity in England” Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General 15/02/2001.
Reference: House of Commons Health Committee, 2004, using NAO Methodology.
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Amended April 2008
