Obesity costs could hit £5bn by 2025
pharmafile | February 12, 2010 | News story | | NHS, obesity
A new review of UK health services has come up with half a dozen ways in which the government should act to reduce health inequalities.
Professor Sir Michael Marmot of University College London was commissioned by the Department of Health to provide short, medium, and long-term policy objectives.
They cover giving every child the best start in life, strengthening illness prevention, making work better for everyone and ensuring a healthy standard of living for all.
While his review document “Fair Society, Healthy Lives” makes great play of health inequality being a “matter of social justice”, Marmot also presents an economic case for action.
The report estimates that inequality in illness annually accounts for productivity losses of £31-33 billion, lost taxes and higher welfare payments of £20-32 billion and extra NHS costs in excess of £5.5 billion.
If no action is taken, the report says, then the cost of treating the fall-out from obesity alone will rise from £2 billion per year to nearly £5 billion in 2025.
The King’s Fund warned the government that the onus is on it to address health inequalities as a cross-departmental issue rather than relying on the NHS to do so
Acting chief executive Anna Dixon said it was not only NHS efforts which needed support “but programmes that address the wider determinants of health – like housing, working conditions and early childhood education”.
The report itself emphasises this point, saying: “Delivering these policy objectives will require action by central and local government, the NHS, the third and private sectors and community groups.”
“National policies will not work without effective local delivery systems focused on health equity in all policies.”
“It is not right that where we live can dictate the state of our health,” said health secretary Andy Burnham.
“The report shows us there is still much to do – so we are looking to all corners of the community to work together and address the wider causes.”
Meanwhile NICE said it has either published, or plans to develop, public health guidance in all the areas suggested by the review.
The report illustrates health inequalities by highlighting two London boroughs a few miles apart: Kensington & Chelsea, and Tottenham Green.
In the former, a man can expect to live to 88 years old, while in the latter male life expectancy is just 71.
The Review’s six recommendations are:
• Give every child the best start in life
• Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives
• Create fair employment and good work for all
• Ensure healthy standard of living for all
• Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities
• Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention
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