LONDON - Obesity is a result of modern life and individuals cannot be blamed for being obese due to overeating and lack of exercise, a new report by government think-tank Foresight has said. The report adds that weight gain is a far more passive phenomenon than previously thought.
The report was compiled by over 250 experts and is thought to be the largest ever study into the phenomenon of obesity in the UK. The British government must wake up to this looming crisis in time and implement specific policies aimed at curbing the rapid spread of the condition.
However authors admitted that there was no surefire policy that had been shown to work in controlling obesity.
The report said that obesity was a natural consequence of the modern life where sedentary work practices were rife. Additionally the consumption of energy-dense foods, use of modern transport as well as labour-saving devices were responsible for triggering obesity.
"The stress has been on the individual choosing a healthier lifestyle, but that simply isn't enough," said Dr Susan Jebb of the Medical Research Council. She added that based on their observations it was surprising that people still managed to remain thin.
The report also mentioned costs involved in treating obesity-related conditions. In 2002, these conditions cost the government an estimated £7 billion. These costs are expected to spiral to £46 billion in the next four decades. Diseases like type 2 diabetes, cancer and stroke are going to take up the bulk of these costs, the report said.
"This is not inevitable, this is the scenario we want to avoid but in order to avoid it is going to involve action by individuals and the Government," said the report's chief author Sir David King. "What we have to do is pay an enormous amount of attention to how much we exercise we take and how much food we eat."
Reacting to the report, Dr Ian Campbell, of Weight Concern said that the Government would have to act fast and maybe take some unpopular decisions like inhibiting the rapid growth of fast food outlets. "This is not something the Government can solve on its own and people do have to exercise personal responsibility," he added.
The report also predicted that by 2050, 50 percent women and 60 percent men in the age group 20-60 years would be obese.
