All Adults In The UK Required To Take NHS 'Fat Tests'

    BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, April 09, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A new government drive against obesity will require all adults aged between 40 and 74 to take a 'fat test' at their GPs, who will prescribe weight management and exercise if they are overweight.

The tests, which are the first systematic programme to help fight the nation's obesity problems, aim to identify risk of heart disease, strokes, type 2 Diabetes and kidney disease.
Dawn Primarolo, the Public Health Minister, said: "More than 60 per cent of adults in England are overweight or obese, leaving them at greater risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart and liver disease."

Leading cosmetic surgery provider The Hospital Group has seen the number of people seeking obesity surgery almost double in the last 10 months, with a huge increase of 73.9 per cent.
In January 2007, the total weight loss was a massive 300 stone, and nine months later 99% of patients recorded a significant weight loss.

As well as presenting a huge risk for strokes, kidney and heart disease, obesity is the main risk factor for Diabetes, so sustained weight loss on this level goes a long way towards fighting the condition, which affects 2.5 million people in the UK (Diabetes UK).

The research published by the American Journal for Medicine showed that following obesity surgery, including gastric bands, bypasses and balloons, 87% of diabetics either saw a complete cure or improvement.

David Ross, Chief Executive of The Hospital Group said: "Barely a day passes without the publication of new research showing the decline of the nation's health. So it's reassuring to see that The Hospital Group is continuing to help so many people lose weight. It's fantastic because people see results so quickly, which gives them the get up and go to live healthier lifestyles - in some cases, free from the risk of Diabetes, heart and kidney disease.

"I don't know if it's the Fern Britton effect or just increasing awareness of the need to tackle our obesity problems - which these NHS Health Checks will certainly help do - but people are really recognising the huge benefits of gastric surgery."

London, the Midlands and Scotland contributed the most enquiries to The Hospital Group, and with one in five of the nation's adults classed as clinically obese, The Group aims to beat obesity for good.

The Hospital Group is committed to providing the very highest standards and all procedures are performed by an expert medical team in state-of-the-art facilities that are second to none. Since The Hospital Group was established in 1992, it has grown from a small pharmaceutical company to one of the UK's foremost cosmetic surgery providers.

Source: The Hospital Group
Website: http://www.thehospitalgroup.org

# # #