NHS costs attributable to overweight and obesity are projected to reach £9.7 billion by 2050

[hellymissy]

So many posters keep banging on about people not wearing masks, spreading the virus and overwhelming the nhs, people breaking rules etc which is obviously an issue - but we also need to focus on some bigger issues around the long and short term sustainability of the NHS a d consider ways to fix them.

Extracts from government website shows that;

“UK and international evidence suggests that being severely overweight puts people at greater risk of hospitalisation, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and death from COVID-19, with risk growing substantially as body mass index (BMI) increases.

The current evidence does not suggest that having excess weight increases people’s chances of contracting COVID-19. However, the data does show that obese people are significantly more likely to become seriously ill and be admitted to intensive care with COVID-19 compared to those with a healthy BMI.

The UK-wide NHS costs attributable to overweight and obesity are projected to reach £9.7 billion by 2050, with wider costs to society estimated to reach £49.9 billion per year.”

If anything will cripple the NHS it’s the direct and indirect impact of obesity on ICU units, and long term pressure obesity puts on the NHS.

Seriously, What else can we do to tackle obesity?

**this is NOT a fat shaming thread, purely a thread to redirect some peoples attention towards some of the real issues around COVID

The food we sell to our people is generally appalling

That is true whether rich or poor

The food environment is full of toxic food which combines high fat with high sugar, is full of chemicals and refined oils that literally make us ill

I know @hellymissy - I was saying that the document the projection figure was from didn't have any information about how it was calculated.

I’d take the focus entirely off individual responsibility, people usually want to do the best for themselves but are up against an enemy that is quite clearly winning. I’d tax the fuck out of food manufacturers for the addictive junk they produce.

I’m very angry that they’re not more tightly regulated.

And my stance was that other countries have found that building costs for active travel - for every euro spent reap back more in savings for health

So yes it will cost more in the short term but save millions in the long term

But governments in this country rarely think about spending more to make further savings down the line

@justanotherneighinparadise

Change the advice handed out by the government? The food pyramid is making people fat. I’ve been on a low carb diet for around four months now and I’ve gone from a BMI of 26/27 to a BMI of 23. Its a revelation. I will NEVER go back.

Indeed the food pyramid is killing people

But ask people to give up pizza is like drowning a kitten

www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/bicycle-highways-help-save-healthcare-costs-in-northern-europe/

And, shorter life expectancy means huge savings on pensions and social care costs
Exactly. You were talking about smoking but people dying early of obesity related illness saves ££££ on pensions and social care as well as age related healthcare. The older you get once you get to retirement age the more you cost the tax payer.

@hellymissy

A pack of meat and veg is not expensive? No more than a burger and chips - I think it's that health food is not as appealing people see it as boring.

First, everybody needs a treat in life. Especially when the rest of the time it's a relentless struggle to survive.

Second, get out and about (once it's safe to travel). Many people live in areas with no supermarkets nearby.

They can't afford to run a car. Food deliveries are too expensive.

So they have to buy their food at the small local convenience store. Not cheap, and often very limited stock. It's not uncommon for these small stores to sell no fresh veg.

Then there's cooking and storage facilities.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/hundreds-thousands-uk-living-without-21279791.amp

Here you go

@CordylineKiwi

And, shorter life expectancy means huge savings on pensions and social care costs Exactly. You were talking about smoking but people dying early of obesity related illness saves ££££ on pensions and social care as well as age related healthcare. The older you get once you get to retirement age the more you cost the tax payer.

Obesity causes a lot of lifestyle conditions which are very costly

Cancer, T2 diabetes, dementia, hypertension.

These are very costly to treat and much more costly than a disease free old age population

@CordylineKiwi

And, shorter life expectancy means huge savings on pensions and social care costs Exactly. You were talking about smoking but people dying early of obesity related illness saves ££££ on pensions and social care as well as age related healthcare. The older you get once you get to retirement age the more you cost the tax payer.

Yes you're absolutely right.

Tbh I find these 'discussions' about obesity are often less about genuine concern and more about people wanting to feel morally superior.

The last thing the government and pensions service want is more people living longer!

Just look at all the posts we'd had over the last 9 months wrt Covid. So many people suggesting that the elderly are 'past their time' etc etc.

People can't win. Give up smoking and eat super healthy? Then people get pissed off because they think you're 'a burden' when you inconveniently don't die and need a pension and social care.

The message re exercise needs to be toned down imo, weight loss is first and foremost about food. It's a waste of money to give reduced/free gym, there is an abundance of free exercise available including walking, stand alone weight bearing exercises and on-line classes. If someone won't do these then they almost certainly won't go to the gym. Additionally people cut down and do a bit of exercise and expect the weight to fall off. But it won't.

The food pyramid is making people fat. Stop telling people to eat snacks. Eating every few hours is also making people fat. Children are being taught that eating every few hours is normal, it isn't at all.

Fucking sounds like a fat shaming thread

The food manufacturors need to stop making the food taste so nice and encouraging us to eat more and more of it. With big pack sizes and offers. I know we should all have willpower but clearly as a species we dont when it comes to lovely combinations of sugar, fat and salt from.pizza to icecream to crisps.
Add in all the other issues about health and poverty too.
I think when you tip to a majority of people being overweight, it has to move beyond the individual.

@hamstersarse
Can you back that claim up?

Pensions and social care cost a lot.

And - If you are right, then the government needs to sort things out.

Provide access to affordable stable housing for all.

Wages and benefits to cover the costs of all essentials - including food, freezer, fridge, cooker, and energy needed to cook and store meals.

Effective and easily accessible mental health care.

I agree it needs to move away from the individual.

The food we are selling is designed to be addictive, the much talked about ‘willpower’ has no chance against this addictive food

The message re exercise needs to be toned down imo, weight loss is first and foremost about food.

It should be explained differently. I found exercise absolutely invaluable. It helps to get into shape so you can move better, my back stopped hurting. It does help mentally too. All together it is a very important part, but not as people generally think. If you feel better and feel stronger and your posture gets better, thr food part gets easier.

@Fischliweiss

Fucking sounds like a fat shaming thread

Yep.

The message re exercise needs to be toned down imo, weight loss is first and foremost about food

It is, but exercise alone brings huge health benefits, irrespective of weight, so what you really should be saying is stop conflating the two.

How dare poorer people or those with mental health struggles have something to enjoy in life. Of course it should be nothing but a joyless grind.

@SheepandCow

How dare poorer people or those with mental health struggles have something to enjoy in life. Of course it should be nothing but a joyless grind.

What people are saying is that the things that you describe as a ‘joy’ are very very unhealthy

People used to get ‘joy’ from cigarettes but it still didn’t mean that we should just let people crack on

I refuse to accept this is fat shaming

Just prescribe them valium for the stress (costs pennies as it's out of patent) and get them on fags.

Job done. People have some soma comfort to deal with a brave new world rubbish life - AND we get a load of tax income.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/18/comes-smokers-burden-nhs-may-contribute-tax-take/amp/

Have you got a Valium problem @SheepandCow?

Well @hamstersarse
Life is unhealthy. Especially if you're poor.

@hamstersarse

Have you got a Valium problem *@SheepandCow*?

Nope.

Do you have a moral superiority problem?