UK is leaps ahead of the European Union average obesity rate of 14 per cent

The number of obese people in Europe is on the increase and the UK can now take the title of "Fattest Country in Europe". A new study recently released by scientists from the Association of Public Health Observatories which did not only look at obesity but also cancer death rates and teenage pregnancy numbers observed that the UK is leaps ahead of the European Union average obesity rate of 14 per cent with over double that figure in some parts of the UK.

The report which was authored by Professor John Wilkinson also observed worrying high rates of teenage pregnancy which has also been linked to obesity. Previous research published by Ukmedix News shows that overweight teenage girls are on average more promiscuous and less likely to use contraception than normal weight teenage girls.

There is a big link between poverty and obesity and the availability of fast food and obesity. At Ukmedix News we have campaigned long and hard for more drastic action to be taken by successive British governments to tackle obesity especially in young children. While there have been a few small successes notably with Jamie Oliver's campaign to get children talking and being taught about nutrition and healthy cooking, much more needs to be done and more importantly legislation needs to be put into place which prevents children from getting unhealthy food.

It might sound draconian and unrealistic but there needs to be legislation against fast food advertising and also processed food advertising. The whole food industry from manufacturers to supermarkets needs to be legislated and we cannot rely on them providing healthy options because it doesn't pay them to do so.

So often so called diet food is not healthy and all it does is lull dieters into a false sense of security about what they are eating. Being obese is a horrible and demeaning way to live and the UK government cannot just sit there mouthing platitudes when a whole generation of children are being condemned to a poor and unhealthy quality of life.