Levels of overweight and obesity continue to increase despite recognition within the public health agenda, growing levels of media attention and public debate. Of course, the negative physical, psychological and social consequences of obesity are of major concern to those people involved in tackling this condition. Today's Foresight report provides further insight into the scale of the problem; the causes and consequences and some recommendations about what to do.
On a negative note, many would view its contents as "much of the same". However, this report for the first time clearly outlines the economic consequences of this disease. In addition, it also argues that government leadership is necessary to facilitate individuals making healthier choices. The report's identification of this issue as a social priority is based on the fact that many of the causes, and indeed consequences, are social in nature. There is accumulating evidence and a realisation that social factors such as poverty, level of educational, peer relationships, parental weight status, are associated with overweight and obesity. In addition, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, limited confidence in social situations, work absenteeism and presenteeism (low work productivity) are strong contributors to the economic and social costs of obesity.
How many of these important contributors are individually controlled? None, is the answer, which is why the report is absolutely right to suggest leadership is necessary.
This report, however, does not fully answer the real question, which is, what should we do about it? It is all well and good saying we now have a plan, but, at this time, there are no mainstream services for overweight or obese people (now the majority in our population) in schools, the workplace the health service or communities. Even worse is the fact that there is no funding available to undertake vital research necessary to come up with improved solutions.
We at Carnegie Weight Management have been delivering weight loss programmes for children for a decade. We have successfully worked with over 4,000 overweight and obese children. Our data shows that 100% of kids on our programmes lose weight, 75% of the children keep that weight off, with 30% losing more following our programme. This makes us the most successful programme anywhere in the world, yet we have never received a penny of government money.
We welcome the Foresight report's focus on practice-based evidence. This is a mantra we also follow, which is why we not only lead the way from a research perspective, but also from a delivery perspective. The government now needs to put its money where its mouth is. Will this government be the one that collected all the great information on the problem of obesity and did nothing with it? Or will it take a bold step and be leaders in the fight against this modern-day plague?
