Obesity ‘timebomb’ is a growing threat

Surgeons are carrying out a growing number of stomach-stapling operations on dangerously overweight patients as obesity continues to spiral, official figures have revealed.

The NHS Information Centre statistics revealed there were 2,724 operations nationally, including stomach stapling and gastric bypasses to reduce stomach size in 2007-08, including 75 in the North West Strategic Health Authority area, which includes NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.

Gastric bypass surgery — costing up to £15,000 an operation — involves dividing the stomach into two pouches and connecting the smaller one directly to the final segment of the small intestine. Patients who undergo surgery require lifelong monitoring for potential complications.

Operations are only recommended as a last resort for morbidly obese patients — those with a body mass index of more than 40.

Separate figures show the problems relating to obesity are continuing to put a strain on the health service.

Overall, hospital admissions in 2007-8 for obesity-related problems, including strokes and heart disease, topped 5,000 with 395 in the North West — up from 327 admissions the previous 12 months.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said: “Obesity is the biggest health challenge we face.

“We are taking tough action and investing £372 million to address it and to prevent people becoming obese in the first place.

“Our Change4Life campaign, launched in January, has kick started a lifestyle revolution to help every family eat better and be more active.

“Emerging evidence suggests childhood obesity rates may be levelling off.

“Whether to prescribe drugs or recommend surgery is rightly a clinical decision.

“Guidance on obesity recommends that drugs and surgery should always be a last resort — a better diet and more exercise should be tried first.”

Conservative health spokesman Andrew Lansley said urgent action was needed to tackle the obesity “timebomb”.