City ranks high on UK 'fat map'

PLYMOUTH is the region's obesity hotspot, according to a nationwide 'fat map' published today.

Almost one in 10 people registered with a GP in the area are obese, the new data reveals.

The city's rate of 8.8 per cent is the highest in the South West and in the UK's worst 25 per cent. It compares to 15.54 per cent for the UK's 'fattest' area, Wolverhampton, and 3.9 per cent for Camden in London at the other end of the scale.

The map has been compiled by Dr Foster Research, an independent information company.

Dr Gill Lewendon, consultant in public health medicine for Plymouth Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT), said it is unsurprising the figures show the least wealthy areas have higher levels of obesity.

She said: "The PCT and Plymouth City Council take the issue of increasing obesity very seriously and have been working with voluntary and statutory agencies on a range of initiatives to encourage people to live a more healthy lifestyle.

"For very overweight and obese people there is a comprehensive community weight management programme for people of all ages."

She added the 'excellent work' being done in Plymouth to help tackle obesity was recognised with a visit by Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo in March.

City projects include a community weight-management clinic established in 2006 and now run across several sites in Plymouth including Brickfields, the Local Care Centre at Mount Gould and the Cumberland Centre.

There are also MEND weight- management clinics for children.

The 'fat map' suggests the obesity problem may be getting worse when compared with a similar map published two years ago. Although different methodology was used, researchers said the 2008 map is now revealing pockets of obesity in previously unexpected areas.

Along with Plymouth, Cornwall is among the areas with a 'high' prevalence of obesity, at 8.7 per cent, while Devon is classed as having a 'low' prevalence at 7.1 per cent.

Alex Young, senior project manager at Dr Foster Research, said Plymouth was an area of concern.

He said: "Urban areas might be dealing with the problem more effectively but in the outlying regions it seems to be getting worse.

"However, we need to bear in mind that some PCTs are better at recording the data than others, which could affect the results."

The map and accompanying report were complied using data from GP practices relating to the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for 2006/07.

The QOF includes keeping a register of patients aged 16 and over with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over in the previous 15 months.

Government figures suggest that two-thirds of adults and a third of children are either overweight or obese in the UK.

This could rise to almost nine in 10 adults and two-thirds of children by 2050, putting them at serious risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Obesity is usually measured in terms of a person's BMI – their weight in kilograms, divided by their height in metres squared.

In the UK, people with a BMI between 25 and 30 are categorised as overweight, and those with an index above 30 are categorised as obese.

People with a BMI of 40 or more are described as morbidly obese.

BMI, waist circumference, and ethnic group, may all help your GP, or practice nurse, to assess your risk of developing obesity-related health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.