AIBU - With this new data on obesity and the NHS is it time to have some honest and difficult conversations?

[IAmADancer]

New data from a ‘landmark study’ has show that obesity costs the NHS around 14billion a year and that 2 out of 3 adults are obese.

I know this is a difficult subject but the numbers are pretty clear. With the cost of living crisis and a general requirement for both parents to work now to support themselves how do we support people to make the right choices and tackle a growing problem?

Im really interested to hear people’s opinions on what we can do with such stark figures laid bare.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/05/17/cost-of-obesity-twice-those-who-are-healthy-nhs/

Fucking hell @dumple I broke my spine (well actually some twat kicked the shit out of me and broke my spine) my sister broke her spine (maybe we should blame her horse) , the statistics of that happening in one family is pretty wild. We both accepted that after initial treatment, we had to take a lot of responsibility. I was lucky but Dsis spent 9 months in traction (one of those bit whirly cage things), what the fuck happened to you?

My last para was to @MaryHoldTheCandleSteadyWhileIShaveTheChickensLeg

I’m really sorry to hear this but also somewhat ecstatic because I thought I was alone in going through this! I don’t do anywhere near as much exercise as you (due to arthritis)but my macros are spot on and weight does not budge. Put on 2 stone since 2019 when I stopped smoking and. How does that even happen?! Constantly told my BMI is too high but nothing I do changes it😞

Obesity costs the NHS more money because if an obese person has a problem they are sent home to lose weight, irrespective of the cause of their weight. Early diagnosis is less likely and therefore cheaper treatments are less likely, obesity is always considered a cause when usually it is a symptom.

What actually costs the NHS money is pretending they offer any service other than emergency services, surgery and prescription affordability. If they actually just focused on, and funded only those things, then they would be epic, and people wouldn't need to spend time and money battling the NHS for help and support for things they say they offer but actually spend a small fortune creating panels to block access to those things for as many people as possible.

@Pestispeeved it would be outing if I said

suffice to say I’m very lucky and I have the most excellent surgeon anyone could wish for

What are you doing to burn 2600 calories a day? Running a marathon doesn't burn anywhere near that much for me.

We should focus on childhood obesity and break the cycle that is the only way we will win this war on obesity. I’m obese. Have been since I was 8 years old. My siblings are also obese as are my parents. My children and husband are not obese. It’s not as simple as blaming the individual. It’s complex. If you can stop kids getting obese that will make the biggest difference.

Kids learn by example, not by being told by obese adults that they mustn't get obese.

Probably included calories burnt just by existing. My Fitbit does this.

Sorry this was the message I was trying to quote.

I'm really interested to know what you do to burn 2600 calories in a day? Are you including your bmr in that? My last marathon only burnt 1960 cals. I'm fairly light and heavier people will burn more of course but surely you're running three hours a day to burn that?

This is what I thought. I pressed reply but it didn't seem to work on my phone so I don't know if the person that says they're burning 2600 will have seen my question. Surely that includes bmr. Just checked my last marathon and it only burnt 1960 so surely nobody is burning 2600 every day without bmr included

Some people at high risk of a heart attack or cardiac arrest are advised not to for example.

Well my mum was one so....

Yes Fitbits include Basal Metabolic Rate. Mine is showing 2,813 at this point today.

Breastfeeding is a good way to start children off.
It prevents significant numbers of childhood obesity.

Was just thinking about the nectar prices in pp and in many ways we create our own food world around us, digitally at least.

If someone buys UPF it’s likely they’ll see that pushed at them.

If people just don’t buy it the food environment already starts to change.

Thank you for clarifying. I'm apple watch, no workouts today but I've logged 28 minutes "exercise" (it counts anything from a brisk walk up), 6863 steps and only332 cals

When my DD was doing Muay thai and doing a lot of heavy weight lifting, she was eating 3000 calories a day and was a size six. Her BF is a UFC professional fighter and it's sickening how much he has to eat.

@MrsDoylesDoily my eldest GC (nearly 9) is obese. It's her Mum who I'm posting about above. She does have a MPA and sleep apnea though. My DD has asked the GP to see her, they won't. She was due tonsil shaving but it keeps getting cancelled thanks to a lack of surgeons. She eats better than her slight younger sister. We are an active/outdoors family. When help is asked for, it isn't given.

Have you got first hand experience of this? Have you ever been obese? Have your parents ever been obese? Are your children obese? My kids have taken after their Dad thankfully what I’m trying to say is that resources should be targeted at bringing childhood obesity rates down.

The government should nudge healthy behaviour.
Cooking and nutrition should be part of compulsory curriculum. Many people cannot cook anymore.
People who are put on medication which will make them gain weight or have such a condition , should be given proper dietary advice.
Mandatory tax on unhealthy food to fund public parks.
Perhaps a "this food is empty calories" label on certain foods.
A European not American style health insurance where you pay depending on your circumstances. The NHS system doesn't work.
Ban uniformed school children in fast food joints. Where I am most secondary kids walk straight into Macdonalds after school.
Commission a study about how unhealthy food habits are correlated with disease rather than just weight. If you are obese but have healthy habits you may not be at the same risk. But weight is an easy one to measure and correlate.
But it goes both ways we have to accept personal responsibility too.

Do your research, you’ll find that obesity is a disease. Stop fat shaming.

It's not about education or advice. It's about lack of time and poverty.

Show me a controlled feeding study where a woman required less than 1800 cals to maintain. I understand that a meta study takes time, I'll wait.

With regard to previous poster, you do burn calories just to exist. I'm a marathon runner but I do know that.

Not denying this is an issue but can we please also accept that the NHS definition of obese is soooo outdated. My BMI is classing me as overweight at a healthy size 10, and my fiancé as obese when he’s just your average build and muscly from a manual job.
How many people in that figure are actually unhealthily obese…