Obesity Could Bankrupt NHS, UK

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Obesity Could Bankrupt NHS, UK

Obesity Could Bankrupt NHS, UK

National Obesity Forum (NOF) chairman Dr Colin Waine has warned that the financial cost of obesity could "bankrupt the NHS".

Speaking at the NOF's fifth annual conference in London, he talked about the challenges posed by obesity and what needs to be done to overcome them.

Dr Waine said: "Even with the very generous funding that we have had, the problem is escalating so quickly we are not just going to get an epidemic of obesity, we are going to have an epidemic of Type 2 diabetes."

On Sunday, new research by the Foresight Tackling Obesities: Future Choices project warned that half the population will be obese within 25 years if trends continue.

Simon O'Neill, Director of Care, Information and Advocacy at Diabetes UK, said:

"Dr Waine is right to focus on the soaring rates of Type 2 diabetes. The worry is that it's not just adults who are affected.

"It is estimated that there are around 1,000 children with Type 2 diabetes in the UK, all of whom are clinically obese. This means that there is a generation of overweight youngsters facing potential blindness, heart disease and amputations.

"In a time where we enjoy much-increased life expectancy in comparison to previous generations, chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes could lead to thousands of needless deaths in years to come.

"We need to take action now. Finland has the first example of a large scale prevention programme, based on studies which have shown that changes to diet and levels of exercise can reduce new cases of Type 2 diabetes by 58 per cent. Children need to eat a healthier diet and take more physical activity to reduce their chances of developing the condition.

"As the Foresight project highlighted, the potential long term impact of obesity and Type 2 diabetes in children is frightening - both in terms of impact on our youngsters and the cost of dealing with the crisis.

"The NHS already spends £13.7 million a day dealing with diabetes and its complications. This figure will rise rapidly as our children grow to be adults facing a lifetime of ill health."

Diabetes UK home page - Diabetes UK

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Jack....

When I read that I started thinking about socialized medicine in the US. Considering how well our gov't handles financial issues, can you imagine the mess they'd made if the UK is struggling?

[ingyrob 1]

We are NHS to the world. People come from Africa with Aids, we cannot turn them away because it is against their human rights to send them away, because they cannot get treatment for it in Africa. The government have declared childbirth an emergency so anybody can come and have a baby in the UK, and their is a shortage of midwives. Then we have the Eastern Europeans coming in and whilst they work they can get healthcare straight awayfree. They are given lessons on how to claim benefits (welfare) and treatment. No wonder we are bankrupt. Some older people cannot even get treatment for Alzheimers and they have paid into the system all their lives. People cannot get treatment for Wet Macular Degeneration until they have lost the sight in one eye. Some women cannot get cancer treatment and waiting lists are endless. Some people can only get a GP appointment if they ring on certain days in the morning. I could go on and on.

[ingyrob 1]

Yes Jack Scary!!!!

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

We are NHS to the world. People come from Africa with Aids, we cannot turn them away because it is against their human rights to send them away, because they cannot get treatment for it in Africa. The government have declared childbirth an emergency so anybody can come and have a baby in the UK, and their is a shortage of midwives. Then we have the Eastern Europeans coming in and whilst they work they can get healthcare straight awayfree. They are given lessons on how to claim benefits (welfare) and treatment. No wonder we are bankrupt. Some older people cannot even get treatment for Alzheimers and they have paid into the system all their lives. People cannot get treatment for Wet Macular Degeneration until they have lost the sight in one eye. Some women cannot get cancer treatment and waiting lists are endless. Some people can only get a GP appointment if they ring on certain days in the morning. I could go on and on.

Much of this is the same for the US. We don't turn anyone away. Someone comes here from another country, illegally, robs a bank or breaks into a house... we not only take care of all their medical needs but that of the family as well. We can't afford it either.

I did not realize you guys were in the same boat as us when it comes to turning folks away.

Our old folks are in the same boat. They've been paying into the system their whole lives and when they need help, they have to pay cash since Medicare won't pay much. It's just not right. I don't know what the answer is but I do know that what is happening now isn't working.

[lindaa 1]

It's amazing to me that I volunteer in a free clinic where a large percentage of patients are illegals from Mexico, but at the same time I had to go to Mexico to get my lapband because I couldn't afford it here (even though I've worked full time for 20+ years). What is wrong with this picture?

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

It's amazing to me that I volunteer in a free clinic where a large percentage of patients are illegals from Mexico, but at the same time I had to go to Mexico to get my lapband because I couldn't afford it here (even though I've worked full time for 20+ years). What is wrong with this picture?

That is because it is our responsibility to fix the entire world. Even those parts that don't want our help, it's our job anyway.

It's not a matter of opinion or option, it's our job to pay and their job to take. Pure and simple.

[ingyrob 1]

Not only have I paid into the National Health Service, but I also have Private Medical Insurance. I could not get the band from either. Nor will I get any plastics if I need them. It stinks doesn't it.

[ingyrob 1]

What do you pay for medical insurance? Does your employer always pay it for you? I pay approximately $270 a month.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I don't even remember what our premiums are, we pay them six months at a time. But we only use insurance for major issues. We have a $5K deductible and 20% copay. In the end the premium difference is so huge that it is cheaper for us. We just don't use medical care much.

I could have gotten my band through insurance but if I would have gone that route I wouldn't have even had my first fill yet and instead, I went to Mexico, paid cash, and I'm at goal. With the six month supervised diet, etc., I'd just be getting my first fill around now. I went to Mexico, received better care than I would have in Phoenix, I have a doc I adore, and I'm at goal. If I had it all to do over again I'd do it exactly the same way.

[joe7777 1]

If anything Canada Is more in that boat than the US. We have illegals coming here ALLLLL the time, a lot of them probably even US citizens who just can't afford coverage.

[ingyrob 1]

Overweight Shortens US Citizen's Lifespan and Costs Society Billions What many Americans eat and how little they exercise could wind up costing them – and American taxpayers – some serious money. Moreover, the overweight and obese may lose months from their lifespans.26-10-2007

Health care analysts predict an epidemic of weight-related diseases, as more baby boomers become senior citizens. A new study warns that the cost of treating such diseases through publicly funded programs such as Medicare and Medicaid could increase significantly.

“The changes in expenditures will be substantial,” said lead study author Zhou Yang, Ph.D. “Based on my current research, an elderly person who is overweight at 65 may spend $16,000 more and the obese person may spend $26,000 more than those who are a normal weight at age 65.”

Given that 35 percent of the adults in the United States are overweight and another 30 percent are obese, the total extra cost of treating them could jump to hundreds of billions of dollars as they age, according to the study in the online issue of the journal Health Services Research.

The study shows a direct relationship between body weight and cardiovascular disease, respiratory system disease, most forms of cancer and diabetes. Treatment costs were 6 percent higher in overweight men and 12.5 percent higher in obese men, while overweight women spent 10.7 percent more and obese women spent 16.8 percent more than normal-weight peers.

Life expectancy for a man of normal weight is 76.1 years; for an overweight man it’s 75.9 and for an obese man, it’s 74.2. For a woman of normal weight, life expectancy is 74 years; for an overweight woman it’s 72.7 and for an obese woman it’s 71.6.

To minimize additional financial burdens, prevention is critical, said Yang, an assistant professor at the College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida.

“We must do a better job of informing the general public about the health risks associated with obesity and promote a healthy lifestyle.”

According to Nancy Wellman, Ph.D., a registered dietitian and director of the National Resource Center on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Aging at Florida International University, the key to lowering these health risks is universal access to quality nutrition information.

“Everyone should be able to check with a registered dietitian about diet and health lifestyle choices in order to prevent the worsening epidemic of obesity,” Wellman said. “We give a lot of lip service to prevention, but are not willing to pay much [even] when such a payoff can be huge.”

Health Services Research is the official journal of AcademyHealth and is published by Blackwell Publishing on behalf of the Health Research and Educational Trust. HSR is available online at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/hesr.

Yang Z, Hall AG. The financial burdens of overweight and obesity among elderly Americans: the dynamics of weight, longevity, and health care cost. Health Services Research online, 2007.

Source: Newswise

Source: Health Behavior News Service

It seems like you have similar issues as the UKLinks Buddy of the Week

the kitten

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[nina874 48]

Oh Ingy,

Dont get me going on the MRSA, surgary holidays...(fly into the UK and 'collapse' then have a quad bypass on the NHS fly home again)

Asylum status being abused, a country not even 1/4 the size of Texas trying to squeeze in 76 million people and counting.....

[nina874 48]

We CANNOT refuse admission to anyone who used to be part of the empire/commonwealth , my lord are there a lot of them....