Obesity to beat smoking as county's top killer

11:00pm Tuesday 29th January 2008

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One in six 11 and 12-year-olds in the city are classed as obese, shock figures reveal today.

About ten per cent of five year olds in Brighton and Hove are also dangerously overweight.

Meanwhile one in ten adult men and women are obese.

The obesity crisis is costing health bosses in the city about £2.5 million a year.

The only statistics available for East Sussex, which is waiting for confirmation from the Department of Health before giving details of its latest figures, is that just over 17 per cent of adults are classed as obese.

The figures were revealed as experts warned of a ticking timebomb with obesity overtaking smoking as the county's biggest killer.

With childhood obesity increasing rapidly, it is expected that children today may actually lead shorter lives than their parents.

Contributing to this are chronic diseases related to obesity such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

Farhang Tahzib, director of public health in West Sussex, said: "The problem has arisen because of environmental and behavioural changes that are a result of modern lifestyles.

"Our social, economic and cultural development has contributed to us leading less active lives and consuming more high-energy foods than in the past.

"The implications for public health are considerable as it is predicted that obesity may soon surpass smoking as the nation's greatest cause of premature loss of life."

Brighton and Hove director of public health Tom Scanlon said health bosses had been working hard, particularly over the last year, to tackle the issue.

He said: "We had a big push on obesity last year and brought in a whole range of projects focusing on healthy eating and a more active lifestyle.

"It appears that it is starting to have an impact with more children beginning to have a more healthy diet. After years of things steadily going in the wrong direction, there are signs of change.

"However it is still a significant problem and something we take very seriously."

The cost of treating obesity and its health consequences is costing the NHS in Sussex tens of millions of pounds a year.

In West Sussex alone the figure is believed to be almost £60 million.

Chris Gibbons started putting on weight after falling off scaffolding 11 years ago at a building site.

The 41-year-old, from Ingram Crescent West in Hove, is now battling to get his weight under control after ballooning to around 30 stone.

He has already had one gastric bypass operation but it did not work properly and plans are now under way for him to have a second.

Mr Gibbons is able to get around with a stick and uses a motorised scooter but he is not as active as he would like to be and is registered disabled.

He said: "I could not walk for a while after the accident and then I gradually started getting heavier and heavier. I try to eat healthily but when you are living on your own sometimes it is not so easy.

"I can't walk very well so it is difficult for me to get any exercise outside because I fall down and then get stared at.

"I am trying to strengthen up my legs and lose weight and a treadmill would be ideal to get me started as I could use it in my own home without worrying but I haven't been able to find one that can hold my weight.

"I have looked everywhere but I have not had any luck so far. I've lost some weight following the first operation but there is still a long way to go. I am determined to do it though."

Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust has now launched a number of projects to try to stem the tide of obesity.

Projects under way in Brighton include the Active for Life scheme where the PCT, Brighton and Hove City Council and Sport England have invested £450,000 to bring affordable activities to communities.

Exercise referral schemes are also proving successful with more than half the city's GP practices joining the scheme whereby inactive patients at risk of developing a chronic problem like obesity are prescribed a free or subsidised activity.

Projects in the pipeline include the Get Out And Live (Goal) scheme where two Albion community coaches will run a pilot six week healthy lifestyle course for 14 to 16-year-olds in the spring.

The Government announced a £372 million Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives scheme earlier this month which will focus on the growth and development of children, promoting healthier food choices and building physical activity into people's lives.

For more information about health in your area visit theargus.co.uk/localinfo Have you or your children successfully battled a weight problem? Call Siobhan Ryan with your stories on 01273 732254, email siobhan.ryan@theargus.co.uk or leave your comments below.