Cost of living crisis ‘fuels obesity epidemic

The poorest families are being driven to unhealthy diets by the cost of living crisis – inadvertently fuelling an obesity epidemic, an expert has warned.

Rising obesity levels are a “ticking time bomb” which will in turn increase weight-related health problems.

This would leave an overstretched NHS with an even greater workload.

In a paper in the journal Obesity, nutritionist Professor Alexandra Johnstone, of the University of Aberdeen, says poverty is fuelling the consumption of cheap, highly processed energy-dense foods that are high in unhealthy fats, sugar and salt.

“Increasing obesity levels as a result of food insecurity, defined as the lack of secure access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life, may seem paradoxical.”

“But in the UK, healthier foods are three times more expensive per calorie than unhealthy foods and it has been shown that food sources of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals cost more.”

“The current status quo is a ticking time bomb that needs to be urgently addressed,” she said.

Obesity directly costs the NHS £6billion annually and this is set to rise to over £9.7billion each year by 2050, according to Government figures. One in three children are overweight or obese when they leave primary school.

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