Obesity is greatest public health crisis in UK, says doctors

Doctors recommend 20per cent tax on fizzy drinks and ban on fast-food outlets near schools to fight Britain’s obesity problem

13:37 19 February 2013

Doctors from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges are obviously growing concerned about obesity, which they consider the greatest public health crisis in the UK today. 

In their report, they claim that one in four adults in England are obese. They predict that should the UK choose to ignore this problem, obesity will affect half of women and a quarter of children by 2050. 

 

To tackle the problem, the doctors recommend imposing higher taxes on fizzy drinks, which can be used to fund weight management programmes. They also want the government to ban fast-food outlets near schools.

 

In addition, they want the hospitals to get rid of vending machines selling unhealthy products. Lastly, they want NHS to spend at least £300million over the next three years in order to provide support for obese patients.

 

Academy chairman Professor Terence Stephenson said: “Just as the challenges of persuading society that the deeply embedded habit of smoking was against its better interests, changing how we eat and exercise is now a matter of necessity.”