“You are presuming the report was paid for, which is unlikely given the source.
It is an interesting problem and is not as easy as it appears. Yes on the surface less food more excercise does usually do the trick. However in studies where someone is given 10,000 calories a day they put on weight, as you would expect, and then no more. Stop the diet and they lose the weight and go back to where they were due to hyped up metabolism. Visa versa with low calorie intakes. Point is the bosy adapts and it is not always so simple. I am not making excuses, just saying human entropy is not straigh forward. With smoking or alcohol there is a straight forward choice, stop or continue. Yes there are mental factors such as addiction and dependance but stop using the drug and the problems go. With obesity giving up the burgers does not always lead to weight loss.
Although I am an avid sports fan and play some form of sport 6 days a week, I think that as the NHS has repaired when I have sprained an ankle or knocked out a tooth, they can look after someone with obseity related illnesses.”

“Mmmn, these same illnesses have also been blamed on Smoking and Drinking. I wonder if next week there will be a report claiming the NHS is spending £15 Million on treating Smokers?

Makes you wonder how many millions have been spent on commissioning reports? I wonder how much of that £15 Million would be saved by sacking the managers that commission these reports?”

“can't beat a good kebab though”

“Jaspers comments re nurses reminds me that 30 years ago I lived next door but three to a NHS Dietician who was about 5' 6" and at least 16 stone. Doesn' really contribute to the discussion but.......
Also - the lst time I saw Mr McGinty, the Assistant Director of Public Health which was about 5 years ago - like me, he was at least 3 stone overweight. Something about kettles springs to mind.”

“While I agree with many of the comments here about lack exercise and poor eating habits.

It is wrong to single out a section of society saying that they don't deserve treatment because their behaviour. Otherwise where will we stop, refuse treatment for heart disease and cancer of smokers, or mouth cancer or liver disease of drinkers, or broken arms and legs, bumps and scrapes etc of footballers and rugby players?

The figured released by the DoH are a bit weak as they identify money spent on treating diseases that are linked to but not necessarily uniquely caused by obesity. For example heart disease could be caused by drinking, smoking, lack of exercise, genetic defects, or sheer bad luck.

In saying that money spent on education people on exercise and healthy eating, especially the young, is money well spent. A stitch in time saves nine.”

“Jaspers, what does the weight of NHS nurses have to do with this article? If you read it you will find it does not segment people in one profession from another, it focuses on the general statistic for the population. What rule do you think has been applied to the general population excluding nurses?

John Shepherd, your comment takes any responsibility away from the people who choose to spend their money on processed, fatty junk food.

I agree that perhaps marketing laws should be changed to stop places like McDonalds and Burger King advertising to children, or implying that their food is freshly prepared and healthy, as this is plainly not the case.

The main responsibility must come down to the individual though, no-one is forcing them to go into a fast food restaurant or to pick up cheap processed c$$p over something fresh and nutritious in a supermarket.

We have a culture of blame-shifting, where any problems are 'not our fault'. They are a result of incompetent and malicious government, healthcare providers, businesses and anything else in the vicinity. This is all very well for venting feelings but tends to be unproductive.

The only way to make people lose weight on a national scale is to educate, feed and exercise them properly from a young age. As for the adult population, they have to
a) want to lose it and
b) be prepared to sweat a bit.

Otherwise it's much easier to think of reasons why they're still getting bigger, and then blame someone.”

“Maybe its the umpteen fast food joints that should be picking up the tab. Its like giving booze to alcoholics,when their junk is served to people who are already big as houses.”

“9 times out of 10, it's their own fault they became the size they are. Let them sort it out for themselves, and let's give the money to people who ACTUALLY need it in the NHS.”

“The NHS Trust should start with its own staff before setting about the general public.
On several recent visits to Lincoln hospital I was interested to see how many of its own staff were extremely over weight, particularly nurses.
Surely these people should be the role models for the rest of us. Instead it feels like one set of rules for them and another for the rest of us. Maybe its par for the course with this government in power.”

“I used to believe the excuses of obese people,"I have a slow metabolism" or "Its in my genes", but I have no sympathy for obese people now due to the fact that I recently lost 3 stone in 4 months just by changing my diet to high fibre,low calorie foods with the absolute minimum of exercise.
The simple fact is that obese people eat too much of the wrong foods and it is often just as cheap or cheaper to use fresh food rather than the junk food,,thats just laziness !!!!
Having said all that I believe these people have as much right to healthcare as everyone else without being picked upon.
It doesn't help that recently various tv stars and so called experts are telling people it is okay to be fat but it plainly isn't !!!”