That places the UK population in a very vulnerable position.
In people with a BMI of 40-plus, it rises to 90%. People with a body mass index of 35 to 40 are 40% more likely to die from covid-19 than those of a healthy weight. It is deeply concerning that obesity is a risk factor for hospitalisation, admission to intensive care and death from covid-19. The outbreak of covid-19 makes the obesity epidemic more urgent. We need to be careful and to be cognisant of other people’s circumstances, because they might have a genetic imbalance, which I will speak about later. People living with obesity face extraordinary levels of stigma and abuse. There are strong links between the prevalence of obesity and social and economic deprivation. Obesity leads to high blood pressure and some types of cancer and is strongly associated with mental health and wellbeing, which is so important in the current crisis. You cannot take a blood pressure tablet today and then not take it next week, because your system will go askew.” I recall the day I went to the doctor and he told me, “We are going to put you on a wee blood pressure tablet.” I said: “If that is what you think, doctor, I will do what you say.” He added: “When you start it, you have to keep at it. We all live under stress, and we all need a bit of stress because it keeps us sharp, but there is a point where we draw the line. We need to look at our diet and our lifestyle. I took a drastic decision to reduce weight and lost some 4 stone, which I have managed to keep off. My vision was a wee bit blurred and I was drinking lots of liquids-two signs that should tell you right away that something is not right.
Until about a year before I realised I was a diabetic I did not know the symptoms. It was not the way to live life, but I had a very sweet tooth. I was having Chinese takeaway five nights a week with two bottles of Coke. I was once a 17 stone, overweight person. Obesity increases the risk of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, and I declare an interest as a type 2 diabetic. That has a significant effect on the nation’s health, on the NHS and on the quality of life of each and every one of us living with the condition. We are a majority-overweight nation, with more than six in 10 UK adults being overweight or living with obesity. We cannot ignore that, which is why we are debating it today and why the Minister is here to respond. The UK has, unfortunately, the highest obesity rates in western Europe, and they are rising faster than those of any other developed nation. Obesity is one of the country’s greatest health challenges. I do not want to pre-empt the final trials, but for once the nation smiles with hope that better days lie ahead, which must good news for us all.
I look forward to hearing from the shadow spokespersons of the SNP and Labour party, and especially from our Minister, who is always courteous to everyone, with the answers we hope to hear from her on this topic of great importance.įor the first time in many a month this nation can smile, following the news this morning that it is hoped a vaccine will be available. I also thank Members for attending the debate and for emailing me to register their interest in speaking in it. I thank colleagues who supported my application for the debate and the Backbench Business Committee, which kindly found time for us to discuss this important issue. I am glad to have reached this pinnacle of opportunity to speak on the matter. I applied for this debate in March, but because of the covid-19 restrictions I was able only to introduce a petition. This issue has come to my attention so many times over the past few months-I am highly aware of it. That this House has considered obesity and the covid-19 outbreak.