Obesity putting NHS services under increasing pressure

4.23.48pm GMT Wed 10th Feb 2010

Commenting on figures from the NHS Information Centre which show a rapid rise in weight loss surgery over the last decade, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary & North Norfolk MP, Norman Lamb said:

"The obesity time bomb threatens to crush the life out of the NHS.

"Weight loss surgery can have enormous benefits for patients but we need to acknowledge that prevention is much better than cure. The Government's obsession with targets and gimmicks has left funding to prevent ill health way down its list of priorities.

"The long-term health risks of obesity are well proven and the Government's failure to listen to experts has created a massive problem. Labour's hectoring approach has failed. We need to start looking at new ways to get people off the sofa, active and improve their diet."