Cost of tackling obesity set to rise

The cost to council taxpayers of tackling obesity is set to rise by tens of millions of pounds in just one year, according to new figures released by local government leaders.

Spending on the growing obesity epidemic is expected this year to reach over £127 million, a 21 per cent increase on the previous year's figures when councils in England spent £105 million.

Local government leaders are now warning that we need immediate action to tackle the problem and effectively support the country's three and a half million overweight or obese children.

Councils have seen obesity levels rise sharply over the last 20 years. It is an epidemic which could see as many as half of the population obese by 2050. Recent figures show that almost 30 per cent of 2 to 15 year olds are obese or overweight with the UK having one of the highest obesity levels in Western Europe.

Whilst councils are doing what they can within their limited resources, the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, is calling for a fifth of the current VAT from the sales of fast food, soft drinks and confectionery to be used to directly confront the issue.

The extra £1 billion that would be generated could be used by councils to help transform the lives of millions of overweight or obese children in this country and go towards the estimated £5 billion taxpayers spend each year on health problems associated with being overweight. Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chair of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, said:

"Obesity is the greatest public health emergency we face today and something must be done urgently to tackle the issue.

"Our children deserve better than a future of poor health, but it is too late to act when the damage has already been done. Councils are already doing what they can, but they need to be properly resourced to make a real difference.

"The extra £22 million funding that councils have committed to tackling obesity is enough to pay for over 700 social workers at a time when councils are experiencing 40 per cent cuts. The Government needs to make a significant injection of resource to help find ways to ensure we avoid an even worse situation in the next 30 years.

"Councils are without doubt the best placed to tackle obesity before it becomes a problem, joining up services with leisure centres, transport, education about health and community run activity schemes. Using money that the Government raises through the VAT from unhealthy food and drinks could directly transform the lives of three and a half million overweight young people and would be a much better use of funds rather than just boosting the Treasury pot."

Being overweight or obese significantly raises the risk of developing diseases and health problems like diabetes and heart disease and can also have a direct negative impact on mental health and social difficulties. The chief executive of the NHS has recently warned that obesity will bankrupt the health service unless Britain gets serious about tackling the problem.

Many councils are already working in innovative schemes which are helping families with children stay healthy, such as the introduction of green gyms and working with schools and on community projects which use targeted education and advice on how to cook and eat healthily on a budget.