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Friday, 31 December 2004 09:34

BNN: British Nursing News Online · www.bnn-online.co.uk

£3 million to tackle obesity

Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson announced that Healthcare professionals throughout England will receive help in the fight to tackle obesity thanks to £3 million of extra government funding.

The new money will be split amongst the nine English regions, with the funding targeted at Primary Care Trusts in the country’s most deprived areas.

Almost a quarter of adults in the UK are estimated to be obese. Illnesses related to obesity, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes, are already believed to claim at least 30,000 lives each year.

Miss Johnson said: "Obesity has rapidly become a serious problem, with over half of the population recorded as either overweight or obese.

"It is essential that people eat healthily and stay active if they are to stave off the threat of killer diseases like cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and cancer. But we can't force people to be healthy nor tell them how to lead their lives.

"What we can do is provide them with the information, advice and support to make their own choices. And this job starts with the healthcare professionals”.

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