60,000 in Shropshire classified as obese
Shropshire’s adults are eating themselves into an early grave with nearly 60,000 people classified as obese, a new report has revealed.
Shropshire’s adults are eating themselves into an early grave with nearly 60,000 people classified as obese, a new report has revealed.
Two out of three of the county’s adults – 160,800 people – and a third of schoolchildren are overweight. And experts say the cost to the county’s NHS of treating the health problems caused by poor diet is set to balloon from £72.4 million to more than £80 million by 2015.
The figures have been revealed in the first county health and wellbeing strategy drawn up by Shropshire Council and the NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group.
According to the report, almost a quarter of adults are classified as severely overweight or obese.
The condition is linked to diabetes, asthma, liver disease and reduced fertility, while obesity in children can lead to low self esteem and mental health problems, health bosses have said.
The strategy, which will go before councillors on Friday, looks at how to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles.
Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow and health boss Dr Caron Morton say most people in the county can expect a long life with good education, decent wages and good accommodation.
They say: “There are exceptions though, and health inequalities mean some of us do not have the same life chances.
“Factors that can affect our health and wellbeing are the choices we make such as smoking, alcohol and not being physically active.”
Other aims of the strategy include improving the emotional health of children and young people – 4,000 of whom have mental health problems – improving treatment for those with dementia, helping adults with care needs to live independently and making it easier for people to get help and support.
But the authors add: “The health and wellbeing board cannot deliver this agenda alone. We all need to work together to look after own health and wellbeing and support those around us.”
By Andrew Owen
Comments for: "60,000 in Shropshire classified as obese"
wendy
I have read this and in Dec 11 I have the gastric Bypass op done for medical reasons, and I have to say up until Thursday 28TH June I have lost in total 4 stone both myself and the GP are very happy.
Tim
Let's start with taxes on fizzy drinks of comparable levels to alcohol. Then let's use that money to subsidise leisure facilities. At nearly £5 for swim how can anyone on an average wage afford to take their family 4 to five times a week.
Secondly plane tickets should be a combined person plus baggage weight allowance. Why should an average 80kg man carrying 25kg pay more than the 120kg person in front who has a 15kg bag. Bit of carrot, bit of stick.
CraigR
Total agree with you their
Colin.Dodd.
Not another report by these mysterious "experts".
Have they travelled the length and breadth of Shropshire, examining and weighing the total population, or are these figures plucked out of a hat?
We have seen instances of children being classed as obese when they were anything but.
Still, these "experts" have to justify their existence I suppose, just glad that nobody has to take any notice of them.
Gary
Should help reduce the public purse when it comes to not drawing your state pension due to demise - thus compensating for the addtional NHS outlay. Swings and roundabouts.
really confused
A lot of people are overweight though, Colin, even if they may not be "obese".
I would say that only a low percentage of adults and children are actually "slim"....and I must admit I have times of the year when I consider myself a little overweight but I can admit to myself that it is a problem and do something about it. Perhaps we all need to look in the mirror more often and stop kidding ourselves.