UK losing battle on obesity, drugs and drink as welfare bill doubles

Published on Saturday 3 July 2010 02:34

BRITAIN has been fighting a losing battle against obesity since the early 1990S, figures released by the Office for National Statistics revealed yesterday.

The latest edition of the Social Trends report reveals a snapshot of UK life showing an increase in binge drink and alcohol-related deaths, while heroin and morphine are the most common substances mentioned on death certificates.

One-in-five men and one-in-seven women over 16 drink more than double the recommended daily allowance of alcohol once a week.

Spending on social security has more than doubled since the late 1970s to 152 billion. Sixty per cent of this is paid to people of state pension age, reflecting the country's ageing population.

Matthew Hughes, editor of Social Trends 40, said: "The UK and the world are very different places now compared to 40 years ago. This book represents an overall picture of life in the UK today."

The ONS has been capturing statistical data since the 1970s on lifestyle habits but there are some aspects of everyday life which have improved.

Life expectancy has increased by almost ten years for men, who on average live until they are 77.8 years old, and seven years for women, who lived on average until they are 82.

The number of heavy smokers has fallen from 26 per cent of men and 13 per cent of women to 7 and 5 per cent respectively.

Mr Hughes said: "Health is undoubtedly an important indicator and life expectancy is a good indicator of the national health."

Dr Ian Campbell, an expert in obesity and weight loss management, said the figures showed the government needed to intervene more in directing health policy.

"I think these figures are interesting because they let us know where we are to let us see if we're making any progress," he said. "Obesity is clearly a very serious problem.

"It's not getting any worse, the rate of increase has slowed, but there's an awful lot of work to be done if we're going to reverse the trend.

"The government needs to do more. Looking deeper into the problem, at health care for children, education, equality, housing and employment and access to health care, because what we do know is that obesity is more common in socially deprived communities."

He added that the key intervention was to make physical activity more attractive and to promote healthy eating.

However, Professor Hugh McLachlan, expert on the ethics of public health at Glasgow Caledonian University's School of Law and Social Sciences, said the government's role was not necessarily to mould or direct the general health.

"I think they (the figures] have a sociological interest, they give us a snapshot that you can compare over time, but whether its the government's responsibility to influence public health over time, it's arguable.

"The state does provide health care and it's required that it treats individuals impartially and I think that's the end of its responsibility."

Prof McLachlan said that he doubted whether it was the state's task to adjust the aggregate figures of the NOS, rather than offer people the opportunities and information on how to lead a healthy life and allow them to make an informed choice.

He also questioned whether public policy could be said to be solely responsible for the increase in life expectancy.