13 million to be Obese in UK by 2010

In just 3 and a bit short years the Department of Health estimates that there will be 12 million adults and 1 million adults that can be classified as clinically obese.

Quite scaringly they also estimate that 22% of girls aged two to fifteen will also be obese. On these figures the Government would have failed to meet it's obesity targets.

But not that surprising is the fact that if a child has two parents that are obese then a child is five times more likely to be as well.

So by 2010 33% of men will be obese and 28% of women.

This should give real motivation for parents to encourage their children to have a healthy lifestyle. But the task to combat childhood and adult obesity isn't just one for adults and the Government, it's also one for the food industry.

Companies such as Walkers have take this to account and have reduced the fat levels in their crisps.

But healthiness isn't just obesity, it's also heart complaints, diabetes, bone development etc. We should be looking at the health of our nation holistically. Let's hope that this report proves to be a catalyst in the whole "state of the nation".

Resources:

• '13m' obese in England by 2010 - BBC
• 13 million obese in England by 2010 - Guardian
• The future is fat - Belfast Telegraph
• The obesity time bomb - Independent