Diet Vs surgery: fighting the nation’s obesity epidemic

Obese people cost the NHS billions every year in surgical procedures (hip replacements and knee replacements), as well as expensive medication for weight related conditions such as diabetes and cancer. If obesity figures continue to rise, it is expected that by 2050 the NHS will be spending nearly £50 billion every year solely on obese people.
There are a number of ways to deal with Britain’s obesity epidemic. Currently, hospitals are opting for certain preventative measures. For instance, certain NHS trusts are offering morbidly obese individuals surgical procedures such as gastric bands to help them lose weight before the onset of heart disease or joint degeneration.
Although there are always risks involved with surgery, surgeon Roger Ackroyd believes the benefits far outweigh the risks: “If we can invest...