Maggie Throup, Member of Parliament for Erewash and former Health Minister, has called on the Government to do more to tackle obesity during a Parliamentary debate.
During the debate Maggie highlighted the problems of obesity and the detrimental impact that it has on people’s health, the economy and the NHS.
The debate on preventing obesity and fatty liver disease took place on International NASH (non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis) day. A day that raises awareness of fatty liver disease and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Up to 1 in 5 people in the UK have non-alcoholic related fatty liver disease and almost 12% of the population have NASH.
Maggie commented:
“I was pleased to participate in this very timely debate and highlight the problems of obesity. Since 1993, the proportion of adults in England who are overweight or obese has risen from 52.9% to 64.3%.
“Obesity is a force multiplier on fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, which of course puts ever increasing pressure on the NHS. The combined cost of obesity to the Treasury, that’s to the NHS, to the Department of Work and Pensions and the economy as a whole, is projected to be £58bn per year.
“Government policy towards obesity over the last thirty years has been focused on individual responsibility rather than on mandatory policy. More needs to be done to tackle the health inequalities of obesity and improve early diagnosis of fatty liver disease.
“I believe that there is an addiction in this country to ultra-processed food, in a similar way to the smoking addition over the decades. We have tackled the smoking addiction by intervention, and now its time to tackle the UPF addiction by intervention.
“I am calling on the Government to be bold and brave and tackle obesity for the sake of the individual, the NHS and the economy.”
Maggie's contribution to the debate can be found here: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/e9f30c34-17fd-4870-9748-983cf296983d?in=13:42:58
