Obesity is the new smoking
Five years ago, obesity and people who were overweight cost the UK just
under £7bn in terms of treatment, state benefits, loss of earnings and
reduced productivity. In 40 years’ time, that figure could increase by
900 per cent. So concludes the largest ever UK study into obesity, led
by Sir David King, the Government’s chief scientific adviser, and
involving 250 experts. Obesity, the researchers conclude, is an inevitable
consequence of a society in which energy-rich, cheap foods, labour-saving
devices, accessible transport and sedentary work are the norm. The idea
that obesity is simply a product of greed is outmoded.
The parallels with smoking are striking. About 40 to 50 years ago, the
consequences of smoking on health were beginning to be understood. The
first two major reports on the dangers of smoking were published by the
Royal College of Physicians in 1962 and 1971. Gradually the pressure
has increased with ever more dire warnings being printed on packs, hikes
in tax, bans on advertising and the development of medicines to help
quitters succeed. The greatest deterrent, arguably, has been peer-group
pressure: fewer middle class, middle-aged people smoke than socially
disadvantaged groups, where smoking remains common. That works both ways:
young people of all backgrounds start smoking to appear “cool” — despite
knowing the dangers.
In five or so years’ time, obesity is likely to be treated in a
similar way: educated people will become fattists and being obese will
become socially unacceptable. Changes in attitude may not have the same
impact on low-income groups, who are likely to be excluded from the benefits
of healthy diets for longer.
Public health minister Dawn Primarolo has said it is too early to say
whether the approach seen against smoking would be adopted with obesity,
including levying a tax on fatty foods.
If the Government is sensible, it will move fast, clamp down on the food
industry and start focusing on children from birth. However, there is
a real possibility that the battle may already have been lost. Jamie
Oliver’s attempts to re-educate children’s palates have been
patchy. In parts of the country his initiative was welcomed but, overall,
400,000 fewer children in secondary schools now take school meals than
did before his campaign to improve them was launched — a drop of
20 per cent.
As in smoking cessation, pharmacists should have a part to play, but
for obesity interventions to be effective and lead to sustainable changes
in behaviour they may need to be far more drastic than yet imagined.
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