East: Weighty matters

Deborah McGurran Politics Show East

Some adults are fatter then ever before, some children are obese. The number of overweight and obese people has tripled over the last 20 years and costs the NHS at least £500m a year.

Hamburgers are 112% bigger than they were 20 years ago

It is expected the cost will rise to £3.5b by 2010 through links to heart disease, raised blood pressure, osteoarthritis and diabetes.

A recent EU Summit on the issue warned that if trends continue, three in four men and women in the UK will be overweight or obese within 10 to 15 years.

It is forecast that Diabetes could consume 25% of the NHS budget within 20 years.

Overeating combined with a lack of exercise is a deadly combination.

A leading clinical research unit based at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital is involved in research programmes for the treatment of obesity.

Obesity matters

Politics Show East met up with Dr. Nick Finer who runs the unit and Fatima Parker who is leader of the UK branch of the International Size Acceptance Association to discuss the issue.

In Britain, 1.7m people have diabetes and a further 2.1m have impaired glucose tolerance and are at serious risk of diabetes, which can cause blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage.

TV viewing, lack of activity and junk food fuels the obesity crisis

Norwich MP, Ian Gibson has called for a new food Tsar to combat the growing problem of obesity in children.

Dr. Gibson, the Chairman of the Science Select Committee wants a commanding figure to lead relevant departments and agencies in a national campaign to fight the flab and to target diabetes in particular.

He believes the couch potato lifestyle, TV viewing, lack of activity and junk food consumption fuel the obesity crisis that is sweeping the US, the United Kingdom and, indeed, the world.

It is known that there is a correlation between the onset of diabetes and obesity.

Should there be government policy on junk foods?

Margaret Moran, Labour MP for Luton is sponsoring a bill to ban junk food advertising on children's TV.

The Food Commission report said food advertising accounted for about 50% of all advertising in children's programmes and of that amount, around 75% was for fast or convenience food.

But the culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, has already reassured food manufacturers and advertisers the government has no plans to outlaw food adverts on children's TV.

Children should be encouraged to play outside

She said the overall quality of children's programming might fall as a result of a decrease in advertising revenue.

The Government are, however, to discuss the idea of patient contracts at the Labour party Conference this week.

There's a growing move to get people to play their part by adopting a healthy lifestyle, i.e. eating sensibly and exercising regularly.

The Labour party is currently consulting members on whether the government should bring in formal contracts between doctors and patients which would not be legally binding but express 'mutual good intent' in making lifestyle changes.

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