Running doctor highlights cause:
A DOCTOR who took part in the London Marathon to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and encourage local women to get tested early has raised £7,000 so far. Evening Telegraph
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Toolkit for improving care for frail older people
Toolkit for improving care for frail older people:
The toolkit, produced in collaboration with the British Geriatrics Society, recommends procedures for both initial assessment on admission and later comprehensive geriatric assessment. NHS Networks
The toolkit, produced in collaboration with the British Geriatrics Society, recommends procedures for both initial assessment on admission and later comprehensive geriatric assessment. NHS Networks
Facts and figures on obesity
Facts and figures on obesity:
This information is aimed at healthcare professionals and others wanting to find out about the government’s policy and work on obesity. If you are looking for advice about losing weight and a healthy lifestyle, visit the ‘Lose weight’ section on NHS Choices.
The latest Health Survey for England (HSE) data shows that in England in 2010:
See the Health Survey for England 2010 trend tables.
In adults, a BMI of 25 to 29.9 means that person is considered to be overweight, and a BMI of 30 or above means that person is considered to be obese.
In children and adolescents, BMI varies with age and sex, so the BMI score for children and adolescents is related to the UK 1990 BMI growth reference charts in order to determine a child’s weight status.
BMI is the best way we have to measure the prevalence of obesity at the population level. No specialised equipment is needed and therefore it is easy to measure accurately and consistently across large populations. BMI is also widely used around the world, which enables comparisons between countries, regions and population sub-groups.
For most people, their BMI correlates well with their level of body fat. However, certain factors such as fitness and ethnic origin can sometimes alter the relationship between BMI and body fatness. So then other measurements such as waist circumference and skin fold thickness can also be collected to confirm an individual person’s weight status.
Find out more about measuring obesity on the National Obesity Observatory site.
It is clear, however, that reducing overall energy intake is key to losing weight. Increasing physical activity can also be helpful alongside calorie reduction in achieving weight loss and sustaining a healthy body weight, as well as improving overall health.
Find out more about the causes of obesity on the National Obesity Observatory website.
Given the impact on individual health, obese and overweight individuals can place a significant burden on the NHS, with direct costs estimated to be £5.1 billion per year. But there are also costs to society and the economy more broadly – for example, sickness absence reduces productivity. Foresight’s Tackling Obesities: Future Choices report estimated that weight problems already cost the wider economy in the region of £16 billion, and that this could rise to £50 billion per year by 2050 if left unchecked.
These ambitions underline the importance of taking a ‘life course’ approach – as recommended by Foresight’s Tackling Obesities: Future Choices report. With such a high proportion of adults already overweight or obese, we cannot afford to focus simply on prevention, but must also tackle the potentially grave consequences of existing excess weight.
The Department of Health is providing national leadership by continuing to work with businesses and non-government organisations (NGOs), and ensuring that action across government supports the overall approach to encourage healthy eating choices and more active lifestyles – including the huge opportunity to promote physical activity presented by the 2012 London Olympics.
We are continuing to invest in Change4Life as a direct way of supporting people to make healthier choices. The Department has also published a Change4Life three year social marketing strategy (2011-14).
The White Paper also recognises the importance of local leadership, and as part of the new public health system, local authorities will have a new enhanced role. Supported by a ring-fenced budget, they will bring together local partners, along with the NHS, to address public health issues including obesity.
While individuals need to make their own decisions about how they live their lives, it is important that people have the opportunity to make healthier choices for themselves and their families – to do this everyone has a role to play.
Multinational food and drink corporations, physical activity and sport organisations, NGOs, employers and local NHS staff all need to work together to help communicate the messages about why we need to look at our individual lifestyles, but also to change the environment so the healthier choice becomes the easier choice.
Many businesses have already made voluntary commitments to play their part in improving public health through the Responsibility Deal. These commitments include food pledges on calorie reduction and calorie labelling on menus.
Department of Health
This information is aimed at healthcare professionals and others wanting to find out about the government’s policy and work on obesity. If you are looking for advice about losing weight and a healthy lifestyle, visit the ‘Lose weight’ section on NHS Choices.
What is obesity?
‘Obesity’ is a clinical term used to describe excess body fat associated with increased risks to health. Being obese can increase the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Not only does obesity affect people’s health, their lives and the lives of their families, but it places a large financial burden on the NHS and the wider economy.Obesity figures
The prevalence of obesity in England has more than tripled in the last 25 years – find out more about obesity trends on the National Obesity Observatory website.The latest Health Survey for England (HSE) data shows that in England in 2010:
- 62.8% of adults (aged 16 or over) were overweight or obese
- 30.3% of children (aged 2-15) were overweight or obese
- 26.1% of all adults and 16% of all children were obese
See the Health Survey for England 2010 trend tables.
Measuring obesity
The most common method of measuring obesity is calculating an individual’s Body Mass Index (BMI). This is calculated by dividing a person’s weight measurement (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in metres). See the BMI healthy weight calculator on the NHS Choices site.In adults, a BMI of 25 to 29.9 means that person is considered to be overweight, and a BMI of 30 or above means that person is considered to be obese.
In children and adolescents, BMI varies with age and sex, so the BMI score for children and adolescents is related to the UK 1990 BMI growth reference charts in order to determine a child’s weight status.
BMI is the best way we have to measure the prevalence of obesity at the population level. No specialised equipment is needed and therefore it is easy to measure accurately and consistently across large populations. BMI is also widely used around the world, which enables comparisons between countries, regions and population sub-groups.
For most people, their BMI correlates well with their level of body fat. However, certain factors such as fitness and ethnic origin can sometimes alter the relationship between BMI and body fatness. So then other measurements such as waist circumference and skin fold thickness can also be collected to confirm an individual person’s weight status.
Find out more about measuring obesity on the National Obesity Observatory site.
Causes of obesity
Becoming overweight or obese is the result of eating more calories than needed and/or undertaking too little physical activity to match calorie intake. This energy imbalance is driven by a complex web of environmental, physiological and behavioural factors.It is clear, however, that reducing overall energy intake is key to losing weight. Increasing physical activity can also be helpful alongside calorie reduction in achieving weight loss and sustaining a healthy body weight, as well as improving overall health.
Find out more about the causes of obesity on the National Obesity Observatory website.
Impact of obesity
Being obese or overweight brings significant risks at a range of different points throughout life. The health risks for adults are stark. We know that, compared with a healthy weight man, an obese man is:- five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes
- three times more likely to develop cancer of the colon
- more than two and a half times more likely to develop high blood pressure – a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease
- almost 13 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes
- more than four times more likely to develop high blood pressure
- more than three times more likely to have a heart attack
Given the impact on individual health, obese and overweight individuals can place a significant burden on the NHS, with direct costs estimated to be £5.1 billion per year. But there are also costs to society and the economy more broadly – for example, sickness absence reduces productivity. Foresight’s Tackling Obesities: Future Choices report estimated that weight problems already cost the wider economy in the region of £16 billion, and that this could rise to £50 billion per year by 2050 if left unchecked.
Tackling obesity
The Department of Health has published a follow-on document to the Public Health White Paper called ‘Healthy lives, healthy people: A call to action on obesity in England’, which sets new national ambitions for a downward trend in excess weight by 2020.These ambitions underline the importance of taking a ‘life course’ approach – as recommended by Foresight’s Tackling Obesities: Future Choices report. With such a high proportion of adults already overweight or obese, we cannot afford to focus simply on prevention, but must also tackle the potentially grave consequences of existing excess weight.
The Department of Health is providing national leadership by continuing to work with businesses and non-government organisations (NGOs), and ensuring that action across government supports the overall approach to encourage healthy eating choices and more active lifestyles – including the huge opportunity to promote physical activity presented by the 2012 London Olympics.
We are continuing to invest in Change4Life as a direct way of supporting people to make healthier choices. The Department has also published a Change4Life three year social marketing strategy (2011-14).
The White Paper also recognises the importance of local leadership, and as part of the new public health system, local authorities will have a new enhanced role. Supported by a ring-fenced budget, they will bring together local partners, along with the NHS, to address public health issues including obesity.
While individuals need to make their own decisions about how they live their lives, it is important that people have the opportunity to make healthier choices for themselves and their families – to do this everyone has a role to play.
Multinational food and drink corporations, physical activity and sport organisations, NGOs, employers and local NHS staff all need to work together to help communicate the messages about why we need to look at our individual lifestyles, but also to change the environment so the healthier choice becomes the easier choice.
Food and drink industry
The food and drink industry is being asked to play a greater and leading role (alongside government, NGOs and others) in supporting people to make healthier choices.Many businesses have already made voluntary commitments to play their part in improving public health through the Responsibility Deal. These commitments include food pledges on calorie reduction and calorie labelling on menus.
National Child Measurement Programme
The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) is overseen by the Department’s obesity team. As part of the programme, children in Reception Year (ages 4-5) and Year 6 (ages 10-11) are weighed and measured at school. The information is used to compile data about children’s growth and obesity levels, and to help the NHS plan and provide better health services for children.Advice on weight and lifestyle
You can find advice on losing weight on NHS Choices and healthy living tips on the Change4Life site.Department of Health
Stroke survivors 'feel abandoned'
Stroke survivors 'feel abandoned': Stroke survivors are being denied the chance to make the best recovery because of a lack of post-hospital care in the UK, a report suggests. BBC News
Read the Stroke Association report here
Read the Stroke Association report here
First NHS fine issued by ICO
First NHS fine issued by ICO: Aneurin Bevan Health Board has become the first NHS organisation to be fined by the Information Commissioner's Office following a serious breach of the Data Protection Act. E-Health Insider
Unite industrial action 10 May
Unite industrial action 10 May: Unite has indicated that it intends to take industrial action in the NHS on 10 May 2012, in connection with its ongoing dispute over changes to the NHS Pension Scheme. NHS Employers
'What we know so far...' briefings
'What we know so far...' briefings:
This series of briefings provide an overview on key issues and areas related to the NHS reforms and highlight areas where questions remain unanswered.
This series of briefings provide an overview on key issues and areas related to the NHS reforms and highlight areas where questions remain unanswered.
Briefing for MPs on EU working time regulation and the NHS
Briefing for MPs on EU working time regulation and the NHS:
This briefing for MPs outlines employers' views of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), ahead of a debate in Parliament on whether the EWTD was damaging to patient care.
This briefing for MPs outlines employers' views of the European Working Time Directive (EWTD), ahead of a debate in Parliament on whether the EWTD was damaging to patient care.
New infection prevention guidance
New infection prevention guidance: The National Clinical Guideline Centre (NCGC) has produced an infection prevention and control guideline update.
NHS staff reject pension reforms
NHS staff reject pension reforms:
A ballot of more than 300,000 NHS workers on the Government's controversial pension reforms showed just over half voted against, but in a low turnout of less than 15 per cent. The Independent
A ballot of more than 300,000 NHS workers on the Government's controversial pension reforms showed just over half voted against, but in a low turnout of less than 15 per cent. The Independent
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