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Original poster

To not be surprised the NHS is in trouble…

211 replies

Itmakesnosensetome · 17/02/2023 15:34

We’re on holiday in Tenerife. We’re in a pretty nice hotel, fairly pricey so quite a lot of wealthy retired people . Pretty much every single person is very overweight or obese. I don’t mean a bit of a tum and hips- I’m talking huge, hard bellies on the men and massive women. there has always been overweight people but this feels unbelievable. There are some Spanish, Norwegian and Swedish people and none of them are fat - how can the NHS cope with this problem?

OP posts:
TwoStepsAhead34 · 17/02/2023 15:39

JFC. If ignorant had a picture in dictionary, it'd be you.
I'm obese. I'm not British. And last time I used doctors was in 2018.
Not every fat person is draining NHS.
But my acquaintances, who run to the doctors for flu/cold and broken finger nails, ask doctors prescription for Paracetamol (Costs 30p in Aldi, NHS cost £15). Yeah. These are the people. And the government not funding NHS, but blowing the NI tax to fuck knows what. They are the problems.
Get off your high horse.

Btjdkfnn · 17/02/2023 15:42

Itmakesnosensetome · 17/02/2023 15:34

We’re on holiday in Tenerife. We’re in a pretty nice hotel, fairly pricey so quite a lot of wealthy retired people . Pretty much every single person is very overweight or obese. I don’t mean a bit of a tum and hips- I’m talking huge, hard bellies on the men and massive women. there has always been overweight people but this feels unbelievable. There are some Spanish, Norwegian and Swedish people and none of them are fat - how can the NHS cope with this problem?

Have you considered that this obesity crisis might have been prevented if the NHS had actually been functioning for the past couple of decades? I bet none of those people have seen a doctor in years. If we all saw our doctor every 6 months for a checkup/review, the doctor would say - have you gained a bit of weight, I can help you to reverse that by doing x/y/z. Specific information for that person's lifestyle. As it is, we're trained to only bother the doctor if we are about to die. We should have preventative healthcare, checkups and all sorts. But as it is, we only tackle a problem when let's say it's made us diabetic or whatever.

Plus, supermarkets pump sugar and all sorts of shit into the majority of food on the shelves. Unless it is a bare fruit/veg or something like that, they've probably packed it with shite that's bad for you.

It's obviously insufficient to trot out the old eat less move more - everyone knows that, yet millions of us are overweight.

Personally, I went into a premature menopause and stacked weight on. I thought the premature menopause (39) was stress. I needed to be visiting my doctor every 6 months.

VladmirsPoutine · 17/02/2023 15:48

You are not surprised the NHS is in trouble because you're on holiday and have seen some overweight people? Confused

Stompythedinosaur · 17/02/2023 15:52

I'm pretty sure cuts to funding and the nurse and doctor shortages are having a bigger effect.

donttellmehesalive · 17/02/2023 16:03

I agree that obesity related illness is a big cost to the NHS.

Lilalily · 17/02/2023 16:03

TwoStepsAhead34 · 17/02/2023 15:39

JFC. If ignorant had a picture in dictionary, it'd be you.
I'm obese. I'm not British. And last time I used doctors was in 2018.
Not every fat person is draining NHS.
But my acquaintances, who run to the doctors for flu/cold and broken finger nails, ask doctors prescription for Paracetamol (Costs 30p in Aldi, NHS cost £15). Yeah. These are the people. And the government not funding NHS, but blowing the NI tax to fuck knows what. They are the problems.
Get off your high horse.

Someone got a bit defensive! That's great that you haven't needed the doctors since 2018 - still there is no denying that obesity is a significant health crisis, which therefore significantly burdens the NHS. It doesn't mean you or any other obese person are personally to blame - it's a very complex issue.

TwoStepsAhead34 · 17/02/2023 16:08

Lilalily · 17/02/2023 16:03

Someone got a bit defensive! That's great that you haven't needed the doctors since 2018 - still there is no denying that obesity is a significant health crisis, which therefore significantly burdens the NHS. It doesn't mean you or any other obese person are personally to blame - it's a very complex issue.

Show quote history

Not defensive, but it's such a narrow minded thinking that every fat person lives in docs offices and leeches off NHS. 🙄🙄🙄🙄

Whilst obesity IS a problem, so are the hypochondriacs.

Sarahcoggles · 17/02/2023 16:08

@Btjdkfnn sorry am I reading this correctly? You're saying that obesity is the fault of the NHS for not offering a medical check up every 6 MONTHS to tell people that they're gaining weight? Seriously? Are you so unaware and incapable of managing your own life that you can't tell that your clothes are getting tighter, and you can't stand on the scales and look at the numbers ? Is this what we've come to? A world where people take so little responsibility for themselves that they need a doctor to tell them, every 6 months, that they're fat? Give me strength!

And anyway, every single time someone posts on here that the doctor told them to lose weight, they're always angry about it, and everyone else is indignant in their behalf. So even if your idea of utopia was a world in which medics guided our every waking moment, it wouldn't make any difference anyway!

I'm truly stunned at your "solution". I really am.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 17/02/2023 16:10

You must have it wrong these people are wealthy (must be to holiday in school holidays when they don't need to) and have lived long enough to retire. Perhaps they enjoy life without worrying about their fellow guests and that keeps them healthy.
Are you AI? Do they eat more at the buffets? I'm sure you are watching.

Dacadactyl · 17/02/2023 16:12

YANBU. If I was in charge of the NHS people would be given a couple of chances to lose weight/stop drinking/smoking etc and if they didn't do it, they'd be paying the full price for any drugs they needed.

Too much carrot and not enough stick at the minute.

MarshaBradyo · 17/02/2023 16:13

Unfortunately the U.K. is unhealthier / has higher obesity levels in comparison

Sarahcoggles · 17/02/2023 16:14

I'm just reeling from the idea that we need a check up every 6 months to remind us to consider our lifestyles!
Health education in the western world is at a record high. We can't move without seeing some sort of advice. GP surgeries are wall to wall leaflets. We're vaccinated against everything. The NHS funds smoking cessation services, weight loss services, subsidised gym membership. Every bit of food we buy has detailed labelling. Even McDonalds publish their calories. Health education leaflets are printed in every language you can think of. The likes of Jamie Oliver promote healthy eating. It's everywhere.

QueenLagertha · 17/02/2023 16:15

@Sarahcoggles couldn't agree more. People need to take some responsibility for their own health

Iwantmyoldnameback · 17/02/2023 16:15

Dacadactyl · 17/02/2023 16:12

YANBU. If I was in charge of the NHS people would be given a couple of chances to lose weight/stop drinking/smoking etc and if they didn't do it, they'd be paying the full price for any drugs they needed.

Too much carrot and not enough stick at the minute.

And would that be everyone regardless of how much they have paid in?

Many overweight people avoid doctors because some will blame weight for everything from ingrowing toenails upwards.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 17/02/2023 16:15

Obesity does cost the NHS £6.5m annually. A reduction in these costs would be helpful. However people get very defensive when it's pointed out how overweight and obese people in the U.K. are, 37.9% of adults are overweight, 25.9% are obese. It's a huge number.

Dacadactyl · 17/02/2023 16:16

Iwantmyoldnameback · 17/02/2023 16:15

And would that be everyone regardless of how much they have paid in?

Many overweight people avoid doctors because some will blame weight for everything from ingrowing toenails upwards.

Show quote history

Yes.

AdelineAurelia · 17/02/2023 16:18

When I was a kid far more people smoked than now. We've just exchanged using cigarettes as a crutch for snacks. Both cause illness. The NHS is in trouble because the tories have been in power for so long and they stupidly put up a trade barrier between us and the biggest trading block in the world, losing us 40 billion a year www.itv.com/news/2022-12-20/brexit-costs-government-40-billion-a-year-in-lost-tax-revenue

DappledOliveGroves · 17/02/2023 16:18

This is one of the reasons I think that having the NHS being free at the point of use has significant drawbacks. People aren't incentivised to take responsibility for their health as they think it's "free". If people had to pay something for treatment, they'd have a much greater interest in taking responsibility for their health.

I have Vitality private healthcare and the app links to my Smart Watch and records my fitness levels. The most steps and exercise I do, the weight I lose, the healthier I eat and the more proactive I am about my health means that I am rewarded by the insurer. If we had a similar system with the NHS, perhaps this may go some way in tackling the obesity crisis. I doubt this is a sole solution - the amount of sugar, processed food and snacking that goes on is obviously a key factor and there are various reasons why people will become overweight and obese, but I do think personal responsibility needs to be incentivised somehow.

FlameGrilledSquirrel · 17/02/2023 16:23

One can only imagine the absolute uproar on here if a GP suggested losing weight.

It is a problem. But let's absolve everyone of personal responsibility and blame the Tories.

MarshaBradyo · 17/02/2023 16:23

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 17/02/2023 16:15

Obesity does cost the NHS £6.5m annually. A reduction in these costs would be helpful. However people get very defensive when it's pointed out how overweight and obese people in the U.K. are, 37.9% of adults are overweight, 25.9% are obese. It's a huge number.

Just to check did you mean £6.5billion

Obesity costs the NHS a massive £6 billion annually and this is set to rise to over £9.7 billion each year by 2050

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 17/02/2023 16:24

*Just to check did you mean £6.5billion

Obesity costs the NHS a massive £6 billion annually and this is set to rise to over £9.7 billion each year by 2050*

Doh good spot @MarshaBradyo, I did. It's a massive number. Add on obesity related covid complications at £4b as well

DashboardConfessional · 17/02/2023 16:26

Everyone I know who can afford Tenerife in February as a nice little side holiday in addition to their summer one can afford private healthcare 😁

FredPolice · 17/02/2023 16:27

It is true that if it weren't for fatties and hypochondriacs (and smokers), there would be a bit more space in the system for people who are genuinely unwell with conditions that are not of their own making or entirely in their imaginations.

TheaBrandt · 17/02/2023 16:28

I had a routine nhs medical at 45 did bmi which was 27. Made me wake up lost the weight and live quite differently now. For me the wake up call was useful. I would have gradually got fatter every year. It’s quite an effort to stay in your normal bmi but essential

HeyBwoss · 17/02/2023 16:29

Dacadactyl · 17/02/2023 16:12

YANBU. If I was in charge of the NHS people would be given a couple of chances to lose weight/stop drinking/smoking etc and if they didn't do it, they'd be paying the full price for any drugs they needed.

Too much carrot and not enough stick at the minute.

This is hilarious. There's no disputing that obesity is a massive issue, but smoking/drinking/drugs/and yes, food, are all addictions that usually carry various emotional baggage. Do you expect people to be able to stop just because you said so? If only it was that simple!

Mental health issues need to be better supported. NHS talking therapies are difficult to access, and private is so expensive. That's without going into other reasons people are obese - time poor = more unhealthy convenience foods, money tight = cheaper, bulkier food more likely to be bought, living in a location unable to access more then a local shop for food, disabilities meaning unable to cook/exercise/access better shops.

Better treatment or better care is needed for other conditions like PCOS which means you are more likely to get type 2 diabetes for instance.

And obviously, you absolutely do get people who are greedy, or enjoy smoking etc, but ultimately people will do what they want to their own body.