This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7584191.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Map highlights 'obesity hotspots' | Map highlights 'obesity hotspots' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Shetland and parts of Wales and northern England are Britain's obesity hotspots, according to a map of obesity rates compiled from GP records. | Shetland and parts of Wales and northern England are Britain's obesity hotspots, according to a map of obesity rates compiled from GP records. |
| Almost one in four adults are obese and the rates are rising, according to official government figures. | Almost one in four adults are obese and the rates are rising, according to official government figures. |
| The map, by analysts Dr Foster, is not a definitive measure of obesity, but reflects the fact that GPs are asked to record obesity only in new patients. | The map, by analysts Dr Foster, is not a definitive measure of obesity, but reflects the fact that GPs are asked to record obesity only in new patients. |
| Shetland tops the list, followed by Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Neath. | Shetland tops the list, followed by Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Neath. |
| The Dr Foster figures, which are broken down to a local health body level, are much lower, but that reflects the fact that GPs are only asked to record obesity in new patients. | The Dr Foster figures, which are broken down to a local health body level, are much lower, but that reflects the fact that GPs are only asked to record obesity in new patients. |
| The Shetland Islands has the worst rates with 15.5% of patients classed as obese. | The Shetland Islands has the worst rates with 15.5% of patients classed as obese. |
| Worst | Worst |
| Five places in Wales feature in the top six worst areas, with Barnsley in seventh place. | Five places in Wales feature in the top six worst areas, with Barnsley in seventh place. |
| Dr Foster, which received funding from pharmaceutical firm Roche, the manufacturer of an obesity drug, to do the research, acknowledged not everyone was being picked up by the GP data. | Dr Foster, which received funding from pharmaceutical firm Roche, the manufacturer of an obesity drug, to do the research, acknowledged not everyone was being picked up by the GP data. |
| OBESITY HOTSPOTS Shetland - 15.5% Torfaen - 13.9%Blaenau Gwent - 12.5% Neath - 11.9% Caerphilly - 11.1%Rhondda - 11.1Barnsley - 10.8%Wrexham - 10.8% | OBESITY HOTSPOTS Shetland - 15.5% Torfaen - 13.9%Blaenau Gwent - 12.5% Neath - 11.9% Caerphilly - 11.1%Rhondda - 11.1Barnsley - 10.8%Wrexham - 10.8% |
| But Alex Young, senior project manager at Dr Foster, still said it was showing some unexpected results. | But Alex Young, senior project manager at Dr Foster, still said it was showing some unexpected results. |
| "We need to wait a few more years before we can say definitely that things are getting worse but there does seem to be a growing problem in some areas. | "We need to wait a few more years before we can say definitely that things are getting worse but there does seem to be a growing problem in some areas. |
| "We are seeing parts of the outlying regions being affected rather than just urban areas." | "We are seeing parts of the outlying regions being affected rather than just urban areas." |
| He pointed to areas outside the major cities such as Newport, Plymouth and Stockport which all had obesity rates above 7%. | He pointed to areas outside the major cities such as Newport, Plymouth and Stockport which all had obesity rates above 7%. |
| The study also highlighted the health benefits of weight loss, saying a reduction of between 5% to 10% of body weight leads to a halving of the risk of diabetes and obesity-related cancer deaths. | The study also highlighted the health benefits of weight loss, saying a reduction of between 5% to 10% of body weight leads to a halving of the risk of diabetes and obesity-related cancer deaths. |
| But Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of Weight Concern, said the figures should not be seen as a definitive picture of obesity around Britain. | But Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of Weight Concern, said the figures should not be seen as a definitive picture of obesity around Britain. |
| "What they show is the areas where GPs are picking this up and taking it most seriously." | "What they show is the areas where GPs are picking this up and taking it most seriously." |
| And health chiefs on Shetland dismissed the research as "misleading and simplistic". |