UK group calls for action on prevention, treatment of obesity

The United Kingdom Association for the Study of Obesity announced this week that insufficient action is being taken to prevent or treat obesity, according to a press release.

“Severe obesity, often associated with serious complications such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and sleep apnea, now affects over a million people in the UK. Patients can be effectively supported by specialist services that can help them make lifestyle changes, and provide bariatric surgery if appropriate for those who are most likely to benefit. It is essential that the current variations in the availability of services for these people with the most severe and complex obesity are minimized, so that the best and most effective treatments are available for all,” John Wilding, MD, PhD, of the University of Liverpool, a specialist in treating people with severe obesity, said in the press release.

The group is calling for the following specific actions:

Invest in the management of obesity by expanding the provision of specialist bariatric services and incentivizing general practitioners to take greater action to address obesity through the Quality and Outcomes Framework. Current provision of bariatric surgery is patchy, while the general practitioners pay-for-performance scheme only rewards general practitioners for keeping a register of obese patients and not for supporting them to lose weight; and
Take action to control the marketing of energy-dense foods and sugary drinks, particularly to children. The group stated that most people are continuing to eat more than they need and this is, in part, prompted by the ready availability and powerful marketing of these foods, which encourage overconsumption. The group said that current regulations fail to adequately address this issue, with the scope being limited both in terms of media and programming covered. Under the current Ofcom legislation high fat, sugar and/or salt foods are still being aggressively marketed in and around television programs with the greatest number of child viewers.

National Obesity Awareness Week is currently underway in the United Kingdom.