The Cost Of Obesity in the UK
The Financial Cost of Obesity
The overall financial cost of obesity to the UK is almost beyond belief at approaching £58 billion per year. What is even more alarming is that it is growing year on year. The medical cost alone to the National Health Service (NHS) of treating obesity in England has been estimated at £6.5 billion per year.
The Cost of Obesity
This includes the cost of treating conditions such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer. It is an accepted fact that all of these health issues are more common in people who are obese. Additionally, the demand on orthopaedic surgeons from the ever-growing overweight public requiring hip and knee replacement, is almost relentless. This treatment cost continues to increase annually, becoming an additional burden on the NHS.
The Health-Related Costs of Obesity
A Study by Frontier Economics states that the current social annual cost of obesity in the UK is around £58 billion. This includes direct costs on the health system, such as obesity-related diseases (including COVID-19 and mental health issues) and the loss of quality adjusted life years for individuals. In addition, it includes the wider costs to society such as loss of productivity and cost of social care.
Costs go Beyond NHS
Matthew Bell, Head of Public Policy at Frontier Economics said: “Our study shows that the costs attributable to obesity go far beyond the costs to the NHS. Other costs include the reduced quality of life and reduced work productivity for people living with obesity. This suggests a strong case to implement well-targeted interventions which meet the diverse needs of people with obesity to support sustained weight loss and weight management, while also focusing on prevention.”
The Cost of Obesity
Sick Days and Absenteeism
The financial cost of obesity is of course only one part of the mix. Obesity-related health problems lead to increased sick days and absenteeism, as well as lower morale among employees. Obesity also puts a strain on company resources, as obese employees are more likely to need special accommodations or equipment. In the long run, the cost of obesity to industry can be devastating.
Orthopaedic Surgery
One sector that is seeing an ever-increasing demand, as we mentioned above, is those tasked with the providing of orthopaedic surgery, in particular hip and knee replacements. Some, but not all, orthopaedic surgeons now impose a weight limit for both knee and hip replacement patients. This is due to the additional risks involved. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons states that obese adults are 20 times more likely to need a knee replacement than those who are not overweight.
Hips and Knees take the strain
Being obese causes extra wear and tear on the joints. Every pound of body weight creates 4-6 pounds of pressure on the knees. In the US the number of hip and knee replacement surgeries carried out last year exceeded one million. The Cost of Obesity.
This is not new
The issues around obesity have existed for many years. A number of UK government-backed interventions to solve, or at least reduce the burden of obesity have been implemented over the last decade. Consequently, tens of millions of pounds of tax payers money has been thrown at the problem. Sadly, however, none of the trialed interventions to date have provided a positive outcome.
What are the possible solutions to this problem?
Two approaches need to be implemented simultaneously. An upstream intervention around obesity needs to be adopted, probably at government level, with public sector involvement. As an example, this may involve an education programme about nutrition and diet in general. We need to stop the ever-growing number of people becoming obese as soon as possible. One possible solution may be improving access to healthy food options, whilst encouraging physical activity.
A New Fresh Downstream Solution
New downstream solutions will be required to reverse, where possible, the existing level of obesity in society. This will need to span multiple generations and incorporate solutions that the public find both acceptable, and more importantly, sustainable.
The Cost of Obesity
Previous attempts have failed
Past upstream solutions have repeatedly failed. They have included, as an example, a sugar tax, along with an effort to reposition confectionery in supermarkets. Additionally, an overhaul of the offerings of school meals has taken place, with healthy options being introduced. Whilst these are all well-meant interventions, not one has delivered much more than a token result.
No One Takes Responsibility
The number of downstream solutions that have been implemented is vast, but the general level of success once again leaves a lot to be desired. The UK is now in the top five most obese countries in the world. To many outsiders, it almost seems as if no one is taking responsibility, as the problem continues to grow on a literally month on month basis.
Wegovy, a downstream fix
Wegovy (Semaglutide) for weight Loss. The pursuit of effective weight-loss solutions has led to the rise of pharmaceutical interventions (injectables). Ozempic was originally an FDA-approved treatment for type 2 diabetes, but one of the common side effects is weight loss. Interestingly, Ozempic can be more effective for weight loss than Saxenda, which is an injection specifically licensed for weight loss in the UK! However, the new weight-loss injection everyone is talking about is Wegovy (Semaglutide).
The Cost Of obesity
While Wegovy undoubtedly shows promise, it’s highly important that both doctors and their patients have a clear understanding of the potential drawbacks, along with a sound understanding of the comprehensive approach required. This must include the issues associated with the entire range of injectable weight-loss solutions, including Wegovy.
The main factor for overweight individuals using Wegovy to clearly understand, is the proven science. It really works!!!! But there is a big problem down the road. In as much as that it stops working, abruptly, the day that you stop taking it. Without a psychological intervention, all the weight lost will return. There is no grantee of future government funding, users will need to be taking the drug for life.
We Offered it For Free
We make no excuse for the promoting and offering of our own, non-surgical, non-pharmacological, permanent weight-loss programme to the NHS. Naturally, we offered the programme on a ‘Not for Profit’ basis. Indeed, on live UK national television, with Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, we recently offered to treat a group of obese patients, selected by their GP’s free of any charge. Maybe surprisingly, the take up was zero!! We thought at the time, and continue to think that it was very strange…
Built Around CBT
Our psychology–focused treatment is built around Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), incorporating Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). It is also uniquely underpinned by our own Life Architecture Therapy, along with TCBT, our upgraded version of CBT. The incorporation of TCBT in the programme ensures that it is totally unique. Many professionals have endorsed our work, including Professor Windy Dryden, of Goldsmiths University in London, and Professor Philip Zimbardo, of Stanford University in the USA.
The Cost of Obesity
The United Kingdom is rapidly becoming the obese capital of the world. We need to find and implement a solution sooner rather than later.
We asked the team in the office for their thoughts regarding the failure of outcomes on the treatment of obesity. They felt that most efforts to treat obesity have faced a number of challenges delivering varying degrees of success mostly due to the complex and multifaceted nature of the condition.
Below are some reasons why these efforts might be perceived as failures:
Many interventions focus on diet and exercise, which are important but often oversimplified. Adopting and maintaining these changes can be difficult due to personal preferences, cultural factors, and the availability of healthy food and exercise options.
Crash diets or extreme exercise regimens may yield short-term results, but they can be difficult to sustain over the long term. People often regain the weight they lost once they revert to their previous habits.
Emotional eating, stress, and mental health issues can contribute to obesity. Treating these underlying psychological factors is crucial for successful and sustainable weight management.
The abundance of conflicting information about weight loss and health can confuse individuals seeking to manage their weight. Fad diets and unproven supplements can lead to disappointment and setbacks.
Successful weight management requires a lifelong commitment to healthy habits. Many people struggle to maintain these habits over time.
The Cost Of obesity
The team felt that any efforts to treat obesity should ideally involve a combination of medical, psychological, dietary, and physical activity interventions, all tailored to the individual. Recognizing the complexities of the condition and addressing its underlying causes is essential for more successful outcomes in obesity treatment.
FAQ 1: Why Do You think The My Weigh Less Programme is different.
ANSWER:
FAQ 2: Why have previous attempts failed?
ANSWER:
FAQ 3: Why is the UK in a worse position than other countries?
ANSWER:
Are you tired of trying an endless list of diets that just don’t work? And becoming weary of your efforts, which always result in you regaining all the lost weight? Are you looking for a medically endorsed solution; one based on thousands of hours of clinical experience? Maybe something that doesn’t involve following a restrictive diet, doing lots of exercise, or having invasive surgery…?
So, go ahead, relax, and take a few minutes to daydream… What would it be like to be slim and healthy, to be at your target weight? Can you imagine if you never had to go on a diet again, or be afraid of food? What if you were able to enjoy every social event, with the amazing feeling of extra energy, and improved self-esteem?
Award-Winning Weight-Loss Solution
Read on to find out about our award-winning solution! But first, allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Martin and Marion Shirran, and we have worked in the field of weight loss for almost 20 years. We are both clinical therapists, and the developers of the globally acclaimed Gastric Mind Band Permanent Weight-Loss Treatment.
Martin and Marion Shirran
Articles about our successful clients have appeared in many different newspapers, including the Daily Mail, The Times, The Telegraph and the Express. Additionally, magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, Hello, Woman, Reader’s Digest and Psychologies have featured our work.
Over a thousand people, including medical professionals, celebrities, and members of the public, have travelled from around the world, to experience our weight-loss treatment. They invested their time and money because we are regarded as specialists in the weight-loss arena. The Cost of obesity.
Successful Weight Loss
Some clients simply want to shed their excess weight to look better, however others tell us that health is the main reason. Many of our past clients have successfully reversed medical conditions such as insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver disease, whereas others have managed to avoid having knee, or hip replacement surgery.
Our weight-loss approach has been the subject of continued research and development over the last fifteen years. Sharon, above, lost 75 pounds. Our youngest client was just fourteen, and the oldest, eighty-six. You may be interested to read about some of our successful clients and see a selection of before and after photos on our Success Stories page.
Some clients wished to lose just a few pounds to fit into their wedding dress. However, Katie, above, lost 100 pounds, and Sarah, below, went on to lose over 140 pounds. As a result, she was featured globally on the TV and in the press. Follow this link to sign up for our course now, and you can start your weight-loss journey today.
Psychology-Focused Weight-Loss Method
The treatment is based on proven science, incorporating Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Clinical Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Neuroplasticity. It also includes our own Life Architecture Therapy, along with TCBT, our upgraded version of CBT, which is the subject of our bestselling book, published globally by Hay House. Professor Windy Dryden, of Goldsmiths University in London, endorsed the book, and Professor Philip Zimbardo, of Stanford University in the USA, wrote the foreword.
You can feel comfortable in the knowledge that our weight-loss approach has been the treatment of choice by many different medical specialists, including doctors, dentists, nurses, anaesthetists and consultant surgeons. You may like to read more details on our Medical Endorsements page.
So, how would you feel, if you had the opportunity today, to sit down over an ever flowing cup of coffee, with two experienced, weight-loss specialists? And, what if, over the course of 12 hours, we explained everything you need to know to effortlessly achieve permanent weight loss? And we also shared with you all the tips, techniques and secrets we normally reserve exclusively for our visiting international clients?
The Cost of Obesity
My Weigh Less Downloadable Weight-Loss Course
Well, the good news is you can! And that’s because we have spent many months completely reformatting our unique, phenomenally successful approach to weight loss. As a result, the course is now instantly available to download to your phone, tablet, or computer. This also means that you can complete the entire course, without having to leave the comfort and security of your own home. Welcome to the ‘My Weigh Less Master Class’!
Read on the pages of this website how the award-winning ‘My Weigh Less’ downloadable treatment is successfully delivering what is surely ‘utopia’ to dieters; a medically endorsed, proven, weight-loss approach that provides permanent results. The programme is also based on over 15,000 1:1 clinical treatment hours. My Weigh Less can help you reach your weight-loss goals. Follow this link to sign up for our course now, and you can start your weight-loss journey.
My Weigh Less Delivers…
– Permanent Weight Loss –
– No Diet or Exercise Required –
– Medically Endorsed –
– 15,000 1:1 Clinical Hours Experience –
– Fully Downloadable –
– Featured in Global Media –
– Award-Winning Programme –
Registered Stakeholder in NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Marion Shirran, as a director of Oxford Therapeutics Limited, is proud to be a registered Stakeholder in NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Additionally, she is involved in the government’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity.
We were proud to be nominated the ‘Most Innovative Obesity Psychological Therapy Service’ in the UK Mental Health Awards 2022.
We also appeared on the This Morning TV show, with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
And, in 2010, we travelled to New York to be interviewed on the Good Morning America TV Show.
We are also co-authors of two, bestselling books, on the topic of non-surgical weight loss, published by Hay House.
The Cost of Obesity
Below is a selection of weight-loss tips that everyone can start using straight away. And, if you enroll in the My Weigh Less Course, you will learn many more of our helpful tips and techniques about how to achieve successful, permanent weight loss.
Tip No. 1 – Only Eat When You’re Hungry!
This has to be our number one, golden rule, when it comes to achieving successful weight loss. In our experience, most overweight people eat for many different reasons, other than physical hunger. But, if you allow your emotions to control your eating habits, then it is unlikely that you will be able to control your weight as a result. So, before you reach for anything to eat, stop and ask yourself first if you physically NEED to eat, or you just WANT to…
Tip No. 2 – Use a Smaller Plate!
You’ve probably heard this many times before, but it’s a fact that people who use larger plates tend to eat more food than those who eat from smaller plates. No doubt you know about the power of optical illusions. But are you aware of just how much more generous the same size portion of food appears, when presented on a smaller plate, instead of a larger one? Have a look at the image below. It’s known as the Delboeuf optical illusion. If you stick to our mantra, “always go for quality over quantity”, then you will definitely lose weight much more easily.
Tip No. 3 – Drink a Glass or Two of Water Before Your Meal!
Reduce your calorie intake by over 20%, with almost with no effort! Research results, published by Harvard Medical showed that people who drank two large glasses of water, just before eating, on average, consumed around 20% less food compared with when they didn’t drink anything before they ate. This is possibly as a result of the stretching and fullness sensation in the stomach.
Tip No. 4 – Eat Slowly and Mindfully!
A growing number of studies have consistently found a correlation between speed of eating and weight, so it is officially accepted now that faster eaters are definitely more likely to become overweight. Studies have also shown that people are much more likely to eat more when their eating is mindless, as opposed to mindful. So, make meal times an occasion by sitting down at a table, with no distractions. Then eat slowly and savour every mouthful. You will naturally eat less food and also find it easier to lose weight as a result!
Tip No. 5 – Stay Away From Sugar and Highly Processed Foods!
It’s a fact that sugar and highly processed foods have addictive properties! So much so, that many people find that once they start eating these foods, they literally can’t stop. And, of course, if you’re making such poor food choices, this in turn will make it almost impossible for you to lose weight. So, our advice is to choose healthy, unprocessed foods and limit the amount of sugar you consume. As a result, you will have far more control over how much you eat and also how much weight you can lose.
Tip No. 6 – Eat Your Favourite Foods on the Plate First!
You may not be aware of how important this tip is, but the order in which you eat your food can actually have a big impact on how much you consume! It’s quite common for overweight people to “save the best til last” when eating. In other words they only eat their favourite food right at the end. It’s not so surprising then, that they also tend to eat everything on their plate, regardless of how uncomfortably full they feel. Because, of course, they don’t want to miss out on the “best bit”!
However, our advice is to eat your favourite things first. Not only will you enjoy it more, but it’s also much easier to stop when you’ve eaten just the right amount and leave the rest on the plate.
You can read a full breakdown of all the components included in the treatment package on the Course Details page. There is also an explanation of the treatment on the Does This Work? page. We look forward to working with you. Additionally, you can read reviews from medical and other professionals on the Medical Endorsement page.
View Short Animated Want and Need Video Below
Click on the link below to listen to our short audio introduction of the weight-loss course.
You can download the complete My Weigh Less course, and start your weight-loss journey today.
My Weigh Less®/myweighless.com and all associated intellectual property rights, are the property of Oxford Therapeutics Limited, a company registered in London.
You can read additional information about us and our weight-loss treatment on the Gastric Mind Band website.
Although the weight-loss results and success stories shown on the site are typical, individual results will vary, and are not guaranteed. Weight-loss success depends on each individual’s level of motivation, commitment, food intake and metabolism. Read our full disclaimer in the Terms & Conditions.
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