Obesity 'time bomb'

OBESITY in West Sussex is increasing at an alarming rate, leaving West Sussex Primary Care Trust facing an increasing bill. If things do not improve the trust could be spending more than Â£221m by 2015 in fighting fat.

By The Newsroom

Published 14th Apr 2009, 16:47 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 04:05 BST

Two years ago, the Trust spent just under 200m treating obesity-related illnesses, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes and by 2010 the figure is expected to top 207m.

It has also seen an unprecedented rise in demand for radical treatments such as stomach surgery.

Shadow Children's Minister Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, said: "The alarming rise in obesity rates is one of the most serious 'ticking time bombs' in the NHS which will cost billions in associated health problems in coming years and impact greatly on the quality of life for many of our citizens.

"With around 16 per cent of school age children now clinically obese, this is a problem which needs to be tackled early on with a much higher impact and joined up public health offensive including better information, education and incentivisation involving children, parents, schools and local health services."

For full story see West Sussex Gazette April 15