According to The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK the problem of obesity is even more dangerous to health than excess drinking, smoking and poverty. NICE has come up with some recommendation for getting the UK back in shape following the terrifying rise in obesity numbers all over the country especially in poorer areas of the country.

According to NICE the number of overweight and obese people in England alone has multiplied by 3 times over the last 25 years and now 1 in 3 women are overweight and almost half of men are too.

In the UK there are now around 24 million people over the age of 18 who can be classified as obese or overweight. With kids the figure is 16% obese up 5% from 1995 and the figure is still rising and experts predict a figure of 20% in 4 years time.

NICE is also concerned about the huge financial cost of the obesity problem that is now estimated to burden the economy with around £3.5 billion every year in costs for healthcare and lost productivity.

The head of clinical and public heath at NICE now considers obesity to be the biggest health problem facing the nation and not the usually mentioned perils of smoking and drinking. Nice have been busy getting all the major players that can influence the obesity problem together and are coordinating detailed plan to reverse the upwards obesity figures. Local councils as well as schools and employers are all being asked for input and help to beat this growing health issue.

The guidelines set out simple recommendations on diet and exercise for overweight and obese people that should be easy and enjoyable to use. American research has shown that the obesity epidemic that is much worse over there can mean that out of 100 obese men or women there are an extra 30 chronic diseases when compared to normal weight individuals.

Ukmedix will be following up soon with a story on the recommendations by NICE in more detail.