2009 Childhood Obesity Statistics
- 16% boys and 15% girls aged 2-15 were classed as obese
- 31% boys and 28% girls aged 2-15 were classed as overweight or obese
- 20% boys aged 11-15 were obese compared with 14% boys aged 2-10
- 15% girls aged 11-15 were obese and also 15% girls aged 2-10 i.e. no difference
- The social gradient of obesity was marked in girls 6% in the highest quintile and 21% in the lowest quintile
- The social gradient was not so marked in boys
- The lack of significant change in the last 3-4 years in the proportion of obese children suggests the trend may be flattening out
One of the latest plans by the authorities to reverse this childhood obesity trend is for councils to band food takeways in a bid to stop children eating junk food. Read Dr Ashton's thoughts on this radical plan
Weight Loss Surgery as a Treatment for Obesity
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is the most popular form of obesity surgery in Europe and Australia. LAGB is gaining popularity in the USA where bypass has traditionally been the preferred operation.
On average gastric band patients will lose 50-60% of their excess weight. Gastric bypass patients will lose 70% of their excess weight.
Obesity surgery resolves type 2 diabetes in about 80% of patients – a remarkable outcome in itself.
- April 2000 - March 2008 saw 6,953 obesity surgery operations by the NHS in the UK (3649 gastric bands, 3191 gastric bypasses, 113 sleeve gastrectomy operations)
- 2000 - 2007 - has seen a dramatic increase in the number of NHS obesity surgery operations from just 238 to 2543
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2010 - a best “guesstimate” of total weight loss surgery operations in the UK was 12- 14,000 operations (8,000 - 10,000 in the private sector). According to NICE criteria approximately 1.5 million adults are eligible for surgery which means only 1 in 100 eligible people received an obesity surgery operation
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350,000 metabolic/obesity procedures are performed worldwide – 220,000 of which are performed in the USA (63%)
Future Obesity Trends
The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2015, 700 million people (10% of the total population) will be obese. That compares with the 400 million adults worldwide believed to be obese in 2011.
Fruit and vegetable consumption: the 5-a-day programme is part of a preventative strategy aimed at improving diet and nutrition in the general population. Only 25% of UK men and 28% of UK women reportedly consumed 5 portions daily. Consumption is lowest in the 16-24 group (17% men and 18% women).
| Healthier Weight Statistics 2011 - Over 90% of Healthier Weight patients have been on 3 or more diets before they consider obesity surgery
- Over 90% of Healthier Weight patients have lost weight in the past only to regain all the weight they have lost – and more
- Almost 85% of patients blame themselves for their weight, thinking it is a failure of “willpower”
- The most common complaints from patients are low self esteem, breathless on exertion and lack of mobility
- If asked >60% of women that have given birth complain of urinary incontinence. Unasked only 5% volunteer the information
Healthier Weight Surgery Related Statistics -
Professor Franco Favretti performed the first gastric band operation in the UK via a single incision on 14 February 2009 -
Professor Franco Favretti was part of the team that developed and implanted the first ever band in September 1993 and is widely regarded as “the father of lap band surgery” having defined the technique in use today -
Mr Ameet Patel performed the first single incision gastric bypass in the UK in 2010 -
Healthier Weight surgeons have performed over 15,000 obesity surgery operations with ZERO mortality -
Average gastric band slippage rate is approximately 4%. Healthier Weight’s average band slippage rate is approximately 1% |
