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| Obesity likened to climate change | Obesity likened to climate change |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The public health threat posed by obesity in the UK is a "potential crisis on the scale of climate change", the health secretary has warned. | The public health threat posed by obesity in the UK is a "potential crisis on the scale of climate change", the health secretary has warned. |
| Alan Johnson said the magnitude of the problem was becoming clear for the first time and "it is in everybody's interest to turn things round". | Alan Johnson said the magnitude of the problem was becoming clear for the first time and "it is in everybody's interest to turn things round". |
| Details have emerged of a government study which says half the population could be obese within 25 years. | Details have emerged of a government study which says half the population could be obese within 25 years. |
| Ministers are drawing up a long-term action plan to tackle obesity. | Ministers are drawing up a long-term action plan to tackle obesity. |
| Greater efforts | Greater efforts |
| The government-commissioned Foresight report is expected to report on Wednesday. | |
| It suggests the cost of the epidemic, in terms of health care provision and lost work hours, could reach £45bn a year by 2050, according to the Observer. | |
| Professor Klim McPherson, of Oxford University, and Tim Marsh, of the National Heart Foundation, predict that within 15 years 86% of men will be overweight - but not necessarily obese - and within 20 years, 70% of women. | Professor Klim McPherson, of Oxford University, and Tim Marsh, of the National Heart Foundation, predict that within 15 years 86% of men will be overweight - but not necessarily obese - and within 20 years, 70% of women. |
| The study showed there had to be "further and faster" efforts beyond existing anti-obesity measures to encourage exercise and healthy eating, Mr Johnson said. | The study showed there had to be "further and faster" efforts beyond existing anti-obesity measures to encourage exercise and healthy eating, Mr Johnson said. |
| We will only succeed if the problem is recognised, owned and addressed at every level and every part of society Alan Johnson, health secretary | We will only succeed if the problem is recognised, owned and addressed at every level and every part of society Alan Johnson, health secretary |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has backed a long-term action plan to fight obesity, funded by money earmarked in Tuesday's Comprehensive Spending Review. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has backed a long-term action plan to fight obesity, funded by money earmarked in Tuesday's Comprehensive Spending Review. |
| The government is also due to ask the Food Standards Agency to probe the use of unhealthy "trans-fats", which have been linked to coronary heart disease, in fast food. | The government is also due to ask the Food Standards Agency to probe the use of unhealthy "trans-fats", which have been linked to coronary heart disease, in fast food. |
| But Mr Johnson said individuals also had to take responsibility for their own health as part of a "cultural and societal shift". | But Mr Johnson said individuals also had to take responsibility for their own health as part of a "cultural and societal shift". |
| He said: "There is no single solution to tackle obesity and it cannot be tackled by government action alone. | He said: "There is no single solution to tackle obesity and it cannot be tackled by government action alone. |
| "We will only succeed if the problem is recognised, owned and addressed at every level and every part of society." | "We will only succeed if the problem is recognised, owned and addressed at every level and every part of society." |