Obesity levels double within 10 years
3.6 million Brits are overweight enough for weight-loss surgery
A major new study, published today, reveals that one in 12 (8%) of the nation is so overweight that they could be considered for gastric-band, weight-loss surgery*. The study, carried out amongst over 2,000 adults, reveals that almost a quarter (23%) of Brits have a body mass index (BMI) that classifies them as being ‘obese’. This compares to 11% in 1999. The definition of obese is a BMI of 30 and above.
The findings, released by not for profit healthcare organisation Nuffield Health, shows that there is an ever growing misperception of what ‘overweight’ means in Britain. More than half (57%) of Brits are now ‘overweight’ according to BMI measurements. And 2.4 million (5%) people are now just two index points away from being considered large enough for weight loss surgery (i.e. have a BMI between 33.0 and 34.9). A man of five feet ten inches who weighs 16.5 stone (BMI of 33.1) is dangerously close to being deemed fit for surgery.
Despite the number of obese people having doubled since 1999, the report’s major cause for concern is the potentially fatal lack of general concern about weight and how it affects peoples’ health. While Nuffield Health says it has seen a doubling of bariatric (weight-loss) operations in the past year, the research shows that one in six (12%) obese Brits still say they are ‘not bothered’ about their weight.
The study suggests that while more people are able to correctly identify themselves as being overweight (75% in 1999, versus 89% in 2009); they are extremely reluctant to do anything about it. The report shows that almost one in five (17%) obese Brits are not contemplating any form of weight-loss action. This is in spite of 42% having been asked by their partner to shift some weight in the past 12 months.
The increasing failure of individuals to do anything about their own weight problems goes some way to explain why the nation is ‘eating itself to death’. A separate study from the ONS (in March this year) shows the number of obesity-related deaths has leapt by 35% since 2003.
The report also highlights how incredibly reluctant people are to seek professional help with weight loss in the way they might with other medical problems. Less than one in five (18%) said they would seek out advice from a health professional and only 5% said that they would ever consider weight-loss surgery.
Professor Michael McMahon, a bariatric consultant at Nuffield Health, says, “The increased acceptance of obesity is alarming. It beggars belief that in the last five years the emergency services have had respond to over 1,700 requests to help move obese patients stuck in their homes.
“The majority of people go to see a doctor within one week of noticing a cold, cough or ingrown toenail, but the same people ignore obesity problems for a number of years before seeking professional help. This delay could be fatal.
“If people continue to turn a blind eye to their weight problems, they will see their life expectancy considerably shortened. If nothing changes then I believe we could see one in six people eligible for weight-loss surgery within a generation. The new research also suggests that the entire British population will be obese before the turn of the century. Clearly this is a situation that cannot be allowed to happen.
“The increasing profile of larger celebrities, for example James Corden, Eamonn Holmes, Ruth Jones and Beth Ditto, means that being overweight is now perceived as being ‘normal’ in the eyes of the public. We talk about the dangers of skinny media images, but the problem actually swings both ways.”
Dr Andrew Jones, Group Medical Director at Nuffield Health adds: “There are many ways that people could control their weight if they wanted to. Their first step should always be to look at nutrition and exercise. Since we linked health assessments with fitness and wellbeing centres, people are now able to get professional advice from nutritionists and senior wellbeing advisors - highly trained exercise professionals. Only if this approach doesn’t work, should weight loss surgery be considered.”
The ‘Nuffield Health - Weight Report’ also exposes the parts of the nation with the highest number of people failing to recognise they are overweight. The denial hotspots are:
1. Cardiff (with 17% of overweight people incorrectly thinking they are healthy weight)
2. London (15%)
3. Norwich (14%)
4. Manchester (13%)
5. Birmingham (9%)
The report also reveals that people in Leeds and Edinburgh are most likely to recognise that they are overweight; only 3% of people in Leeds, and 7% in Edinburgh, failed to recognise that they were overweight.
Professor Michael McMahon concludes: “For people with a substantial amount of weight to lose, gastric bands and bypasses provide an often much-needed kick-start to a new body shape which can then be maintained through healthy eating and exercise. The more people that begin to consider the possibility of these types of surgery, the more we’ll be able to start normalising attitudes to this type of treatment.”
2009 research was carried out by Nuffield Health amongst a representative sample of 2,023 adults during March 2009.
1999 research was carried out by the Office of National Statistics amongst a representative sample of 1,894 adults during March 1999.
* According to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence bariatric surgery is recommended as a treatment option for adults with obesity they have a BMI of 40 or more, or 35+ and other significant disease (for example, type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure).
The BMI weight ranges, as set out by the World Health Organisation are outlined below:
<18.4>
18.5-24.9 ideal weight
25.29.9 overweight
30-39.9 obese
40+ morbidly obese
Nuffield Health is a registered charity and the largest not-for-profit independent healthcare provider in the UK. Its aim is to make independent healthcare affordable and accessible to all, helping people to take control of their health. Find further information on the weight loss surgeries available at Nuffield Health Hospitals here.
Nuffield Health Hospitals offer a range of weight loss surgeries across their hospitals network, including gastric bands and gastric bypasses.
Anna Farrell, Van Communications 020 7079 9226 anna.farrell@vancomms.com
Hannah Wallis, Van Communications 020 7079 9227 hannah.wallis@vancomms.com
Matt de Leon, Van Communications 020 7079 9225 matt.deleon@vancomms.com
