UK scientists take on obesity epidemic

The UK is facing an obesity epidemic that could ultimately lead to a dramatic increase in the number of cases of diabetes, claim UK scientists. Educating the population about lifestyle changes could be the key to combat the threat, they add.

Once the domain of adults, type 2 diabetes - previously known as adult-onset diabetes - is today increasingly witnessed in children. A body of scientists in the UK believe that educating consumers about the risks associated with obesity could well ease the problem.

"The development of this type of diabetes in association with fatness is predictable but not inevitable - it can be reversed with lifestyle change providing the change is undertaken at an early enough stage, "​ said Professor Kopelman of The Royal Hospitals NHS Trust. "It is vital that people understand the close links between increasing body fatness and the risk of diabetes, and that the detrimental changes can be reversed by simple lifestyle measures. "​

A forum this Wednesday at The Institute of Physics in London , hosted by the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA), will take a hard look at diabetes, obesity and the implications for public health in the UK. Joining Professor Kopelman will be Dr Susan Jebb, head of Nutrition and Health research at MRC Human Nutrition Research and Dr Nick Wareham, Wellcome Trust senior fellow in clinical science, the Institute for Public Health.

"Fundamental changes in lifestyle are needed to combat the threat to the nation's health posed by obesity,"​ said Dr Jebb. In her opinion, consumers cannot do this alone, but a consistent commitment to public health from schools, employers, the food industry, local communities and government is required.' We have a duty of care to protect our children's health,'​ Dr Jebb added.