[Ed. – It’s for their own good, of course. But preventing obesity by losing weight? Sounds awfully complicated. Emphasis added.]
Simon Stevens, the head of the NHS, said it was time for Britain to “get back in shape” in order to protect millions of people from a host of obesity-related diseases.
Under the scheme, family doctors will be asked to identify anyone who has gained weight and is at risk of diabetes – particularly those aged below 40.
They will then be offered tests for pre-diabetes, followed by healthy lifestyle advice and close monitoring to ensure they are eating better and exercising more.
It comes as new figures show Britain is now the second fattest nation in Europe, with almost 25 per cent of Britons classified as obese – compared with a European average of 16.7 per cent. …
Mr Stevens promised to introduce the first ever national programme to target millions of people at risk of diabetes, because their weight is creeping up. …
Mr Stevens said targeted schemes to prevent obesity, by losing weight, had been proven to work, and now needed to be introduced nationally.
“That’s why the NHS is going to be funding a new national programme, proven to work, that will offer tens of thousands of people at risk of diabetes proper support to get healthier, eat better and exercise more,” he said.