The increase in diet-related disease is a topical issue and governments are becoming more concerned about rising obesity and poor nutrition, and the negative health outcomes that arise from these. In 2006, 24% of adults (aged 16 or over) in England were classified as obese according to figures from the Department of Health — asignificant increase from 15% in 1993. Should the government intervene to reduce obesity, and what policies are likely to be effective?
Obesity has been linked to an increase in health conditions such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure. For example, in 2008 high blood pressure was recorded in 48% of men and 46% of women classified as obese, compared with just 17% of men and women in the normal weight group. These negative health outcomes require greater spending on healthcare and, more importantly, are generally associated with a lower quality of life and shorter life expectancy. In 2004, research by a House of Commons Select Committee, estimated that 34,100 deaths were attributable to obesity — equivalent to 6.8% of all deaths in England. Therefore, when figures indicate a rise in obesity, a natural reaction is to conclude that the government should do something to counter this trend.
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