Obesity rising in the UK; threat comparable to terrorism

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A lot of people are still reeling from the seemingly unsurmountable chilling effect brought about by the recent Paris terror attacks. But, one medical expert has recently come out with a caution regarding another threat that she deemed should be given just as much concern at the national level.

According to England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Dame Sally Davies, the problem of obesity in the U.K. has come to the point where it has become as much a threat as terrorism. And, she would want the government to make way for the ballooning obesity crisis in its official national risk planning for emergencies, according to the Daily Times.

In her annual report, Davies noted that more than half of women (54 percent) aged 34 to 44 are now either overweight or obese, while the number goes up to 62 percent for those who are aged 45 to 54. Men are not spared either with the numbers even more alarming on their part. The report shows that 72 percent of them aged between 34 and 44 are overweight or obese, while those who are aged 45 to 55, are worse at 79 percent.

Davies said that there is a need to address the educational and environmental factors that cause obesity and action should be taken in order to prevent this health condition from shortening lives of people or affecting the quality of life, Medscape wrote.

Other experts from the field have expressed their support and even applauding the move by Davies to give warning to the people.

"Obesity and its related diseases is now the most pressing health issue to the nation affecting both men and women that some have predicted will lead to younger generations dying earlier than their parents," said Professor Nick Finer, Honorary Professor, National Centre for Cardiovascular Prevention and Outcomes, UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, UCL.

"Estimates of the economic costs of obesity suggest they will bankrupt the NHS. Despite these risks we have seen inertia or refusal of government to implement measures from their own scientific advisors. Elevating the problem of obesity to a national risk could help to address the current laissez faire attitude to this huge angry growing health catastrophe," he added.

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, also weighed in and said that there is a strong link between obesity during pregnancy and its adverse effect on the baby having an increased risk of obesity, as well, and life-threatening illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes when they grow older.