NHS reveals exactly how much it is spending due to the UK’s obesity problem

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NHS reveals exactly how much it is spending due to the UK’s obesity problem

One of the most persuasive arguments in any situation always has to do with money – that’s a cliché, but a given from time immemorial. The results of any large study conducted on health issues will usually include estimates of the financial costs incurred by victims of whatever condition or disease is being studied.

For quite some time now, obesity has been one of the UK’s most prevalent health problems; a lot of in-depth studies have been made on its causes and possible prevention – and on the related medical costs. The NHS spends well over £4 billion annually on obesity-related treatments, according to recent statistics, and that figure increases considerably if private (non-NHS) costs are included.

Therefore, it makes sense to tackle the obesity problem from every possible angle, and one that’s been suggested is taking action against some of the worst culprits, i.e. foods and beverages that are high in calories but very low in real nutrition. Many experts feel that in this regard, sugary, fizzy drinks of all brands are the number one offender, as they are consumed in quantity by a large percentage of adults and more than half of the country’s children and teens.

Research conducted by the British Heart Foundation with findings published in the British Medical Journal advanced the suggestion that adding a 20% tax to sugar-added soft drinks would reduce the rate of adult obesity by 1.3%, or about 180,000 UK citizens, which in turn would reduce obesity-related costs to the NHS. There have been no official estimates as to just how much that would amount to in pounds sterling.

Adding 20% tax to specified soft drinks would add about 40p to the price of a 2-litre bottle or about 12p on an average canned drink, generating around £276 million a year for the Treasury. Analysts have different opinions about who would be most affected and how much impact a price increase would actually have on the problem it’s trying to address. There are also varying ideas about how best to use the anticipated revenue.

Though there can be little doubt that sugary soft drinks contribute to overweight, obesity and all the related health problems, the debate is not over yet. If the tax is imposed it will be many years before its effect can really be evaluated.

Obesity in the young raises risk of developing allergies and asthma A new study suggests that obese children and teenagers might...
UK childhood obesity problem could overtake the US Child obesity is not just rampant in America but also...
Tips on Saving Money on Health Insurance Many people are enrolled in health insurance through their employer,...
Dental patients warned of the health dangers of cheap X-ray machines Cheap dental x-ray machines pose a great amount of risk...
C diff more prevalent than ever before C. diff, formally known as clostridium difficile, is a strain...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

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