County slims down as obesity numbers drop below national average
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THE county’s weight problem is widely documented, but people in Lincolnshire now appear to be slimming down.
Latest statistics released by the Department of Health state that, at the end of the 2009-10 financial year, 33.9 per cent of Lincolnshire people were registered with their GP as being obese, compared with an English average of 34.6 per cent.
Although this means a third of people aged 16 and over in Lincolnshire have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more and therefore are clinically obese, it also demonstrates that we are making steps in the right direction.
Lincolnshire was at the height of its obesity epidemic at the beginning of 2008, when 40 per cent of county people aged 16 and over were deemed clinically obese.
And Boston was even dubbed the fat capital of England in 2006 after its high obesity levels were revealed in a Government report.
NHS Lincolnshire health improvement principal, Phil Garner, said: “We are pleased to see that the rates of obesity in Lincolnshire have reduced slightly, but we would like to see a further decline as we are within the national obese average of 33 to 34 per cent.
“The statistics only show those people who have had their BMI measured by a GP. Anyone who is worried about their weight should visit their GP for a BMI check and advice.”
Programme manager at NHS Lincolnshire’s Phoenix Weight Management Service, Matt Broughton, said the service previously only helped people who were referred to the Weight Management Service by their GP.
But now anyone with a BMI of more than 30 can self-refer for individual or group sessions.
Mr Broughton said: “Our work is based on behaviour change. Traditionally, medicine has involved a patient going to the doctor and the doctor fixing them.
“But what we have almost got to do now is make people take ownership of their weight and help look after their health.
“A lot of illnesses people are suffering from such as diabetes and heart disease are linked to how we live our lives.
“There are lots of good weight management programmes out there that are hopefully having an impact but NHS Lincolnshire is looking at pulling it all together to create a strategy for tackling obesity in the county.”
Dr David Baker, GP and Lincolnshire representative for the British Medical Association, said the statistics could not be a result of obese Lincolnshire people dying and therefore lowering the county’s rate of obesity.
He said: “We’re dealing with huge numbers here so it could not be this.
“It definitely appears to be good news.”
For more information, call the Phoenix Weight Management Service on (01522) 550683.
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