The report claims Suffolk residents are among the nation's least healthy
Suffolk people ‘nation’s unhealthiest’, claims report
Monday, August 16, 2010
12:56 PM
A NEW report which says free medical treatments could be cut back as the NHS struggles under the strain of poor lifestyles has claimed Suffolk residents are among the nation’s unhealthiest.
The report claims people in the county do less exercise compared to 10 other regions in the country that were polled.
Visions of Britain 2020 maps out the potential impact of people eating unhealthily, exercising too little and drinking too much alcohol despite Government health campaigns.
Experts told the researchers they predicted treatments including IVF and fertility treatment, dental treatment, obesity surgery and drugs, dementia treatment and complementary therapies will no longer be free in 2020.
A poll for the report, made by Friends Provident and the Future Foundation, found Suffolk residents had the unhealthiest lifestyles, exercising the least compared with 10 other regions in the UK.
They were also least likely to take notice of their calorie intake and the least likely to follow recommended alcohol guidelines, according to the survey of 1,000 consumers.
Dr Sarah Brewer, a GP and medical journalist who was consulted for the report, said: “We all know that we should follow a healthy low-fat diet, eat at least five [portions of fruit and vegetables] a day etc.
“But how many actually do anything about it? Unless an unhealthy diet and lifestyle is penalised in some way, no-one will change.”
Trevor Matthews, chief executive officer of Friends Provident, said: “We all know the NHS will probably change in years to come, but some of the behaviours identified in the report mean that these changes will be much harder on us than what we expect. We all need to adopt healthier lifestyles or else risk being faced with penalties in the years ahead.”
Dr Peter Bradley, public health director for NHS Suffolk, said: “Statistics show people in Suffolk are relatively healthy compared to those in other parts of the country.
“Life expectancy is higher than the England average and is increasing in both sexes, and figures from 2003 to 2005 show deaths due to smoking, cancer, heart disease and stroke are lower than the England average.
“However, as with the rest of the nation, unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking, obesity and binge drinking affect all ages and communities and are a problem. Working with organisations in the county, the Healthy Ambitions Suffolk scheme aims to make Suffolk the healthiest county by 2028.”
More news
- Suffolk: Rise of the brazen urban fox
- Felixstowe: Business park better than a Tesco at Walton Green
- Great Blakenham: Recycling firm in pledge to boost security after blaze
- Waldringfield: Firefighters at chimney fire
- John Terry stripped of England captaincy
- Buxhall: Fire crews tackle chimney fire
- Felixstowe: Selvale Way stab victim is laid to rest
- Bury St Edmunds: Safety advice is issued following fire
- Support is expressed for new bus service
- Freezing temperatures grip county as snow is on the way
8 comments
Pick on the fat folk again!!! When there's as much help for the overweight as for annorexics,drug addicts and smokers, fresh fruit and veg are as cheap as a multi-pack of anything in a supermarket... then I'll sit up a listen to what some report says! Shame the money wasted on undertaking the study and compiling the report didn't go towards offering nutrition classes at schools, colleges or adult educations centres for those who want to change and need the help! Remember there's plenty of unfit skinny and 'average sized' people, smokers and drinkers to drain NHS resources too!
Report this comment
Delphi
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Even is callories were vissable, would it make a difference? I dont think so. When I was a child if you had a take away it was a treat for beong good, someones birthday, good exam results that sort of reward but now children have them everyday. What about home made meals? or a game of foot ball (pysical football not on the xbox) after school. When its warm out side go out side, go for a walk, play a ball game sitting on you ass in the garden dosent count. Its shocking that most children weigh more than me! It so wrong and it should be classed as child abuse! But changing the word FAT to over weight or big just makes it accpetable and its not! People should be made to feeel bad for being FAT beacuse then maybe they will actually do something about it
Report this comment
Miss Lou
Monday, August 16, 2010
I agree with Miss Lou; when I was at school in the late seventies there only two pupils in the whole school that could be classed as overweight, or obese, now take a look around! I cannot believe how many young people in there twenties I see that are so overweight, My niece is not even thirty yet, and is massive and on DLA, absolutely frightening, and the thought that many younger people will be dead before their parents, the Guv could help by making calorie and fat content easier to see on packaging, and also mandatory in all take away foods clearly labelled in the takeaway outlet.
Report this comment
david norman
Monday, August 16, 2010
How may of us have perfect lifestyles?
Report this comment
chas winfield
Monday, August 16, 2010
There is no excuse for being over weight at all and to be honest Its discusting. When I was at school hardly anyone was fat and now its hard to find a slim person, fat people cost the NHS loads of money with the ambulances having to be re-enfoced to deal with extra weight and the beds also and there is no need for it! A healthy life style of regualr exercise even if its just a walk to the shops and back and eating on moderation never did any one any harm and being over weight is inexcuseable! What happened to people taking pride in their apperaence and their life styles now people dont care if they look to be FAT slobs!
Report this comment
Miss Lou
Monday, August 16, 2010
Don't we have the longest lifespans though?
Report this comment
Winston Barrington Jr.
Monday, August 16, 2010
I understand the figures for Ipswich are particularly distrurbing. Time for the rest of the county to declare UDI and thereby improve the picture?
Report this comment
Percy Flage
Monday, August 16, 2010
More stuff from the health police! Is there really any point in paying towards the NHS in the form of NI and taxes if, after having done so for years, you end up receiving nothing for it? That, to me, is just theft and deception. In any event, judging by the poor treatment of the elderly in this country, I rather got the impression that "government" or "the powers that be" would be more than happy if we died off sooner rather than later; thus saving expense and inconvenience. They could then do the usual thing and use the money for pay rises and pension pots for themselves.
Report this comment
T Doff
Monday, August 16, 2010