The Cost of Obesity

Obesity is big news in western media at the moment. “Fatness” has become endemic within developed countries, and the United Kingdom is no exception.

Approximately 50% of the British population are overweight, with 1 in 5 adults being categorised as obese.



Obesity does not simply pose a health risk to the individuals in question, it puts considerable strain on the government’s purse strings as a result of illness, death and time off work. In the UK related costs are estimated at around £7billion a year.



What is perhaps most disturbing about this issue is that the number of obese individuals now equals the number of underfed – about 1.1 billion. It is also on the increase. That so many people are dying for want of food while others are dying because of too much is unconscionable.

My purpose is not to point an accusatory finger at overweight people, but it is an issue that reflects a wider global problem. We live in a culture of excess and waste. Not only do we eat more than we need to in the United Kingdom, but between thirty and forty percent of all food is being thrown away. It’s a disgrace.

If we want to address issues of poverty and deprivation, we need to analyse our own actions and take greater responsibility for the imbalances that exist around us.