Obesity and the NHS.

Last night professor Rachel Batterham of University College Hospital, London examined the controversial issue of obesity, in an illuminating programme on BBC Two Obesity: How Prejudiced is the NHS? As we know this is an epidemic across the advanced industrial countries and could over time bankrupt the NHS. There is an unconscious bias against those who are obese getting the appropriate treatment. As a result the cost benefit analysis on a longitudinal basis is causing more costs and not less. It is estimated there are in the UK some 8.5 million people with type two diabetes resulting mainly from being over weight. Unless its considered a health issue and not a life style problem, treatment will continue to be restricted. Most patients who are morbidly obese have experienced prejudice by health professionals. If  however they received weight loss surgery they benefit personally from a reduction in weight and other health related issues. As a consequence of surgery the gut sends a different hormone signal to the brain, thereby producing a different attitude to food and appetite. Time to change the way we think about obesity before its too late.