Obesity Becoming a National Threat Just Like Terrorism in England: Chief Medical Officer

Obesity and its complications are emerging to be the most dreaded disease in the world. Millions of people are reportedly overweight and obese which has posed a threat for not only the current generation but also for the future.

England's Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies has warned that Obesity has become the biggest threat to women's health and should be treated as a "national priority". Her report states that 54% of women in the age group of 34-44 and 62% of women in the age group of 45-54 were classified as overweight or obese in 2013.

‘England's chief medical officer reported obesity as a national threat and has classified it under the same category of terrorism, flooding and major outbreaks of disease.’

"Obesity has to be a national priority. Action is required across all of society to prevent obesity and its associated problems from shortening women' s lives and affecting their quality of life. We need to address the educational and environmental factors that cause obesity and empower women and their families to live healthier lives," she said.

She also warned that the women should not eat for two during pregnancy as overweight pregnant women are more at risk of miscarrying and premature birth. She has called for the government to include obesity in its national risk planning - putting it the same category as terrorism, flooding and major outbreaks of disease.

She also called for better treatment of women with ovarian cancer to boost survival rates and medical staff to be better trained to spot the signs of gender-based violence and female genital mutilation.

Source: Medindia