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Government urges overweight people to lose five pounds to save the NHS £100m
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The Health Secretary has called for the nation to lose weight and save the NHS £100m.
Matt Hancock has explained that anyone who is clinically classed as overweight should lose at least five pounds to save lives and spare the NHS £100 million.
The latest government strategy comes after last week’s announcement about a ban on advertising of unhealthy food before the watershed.
Mr Hancock explains that coronavirus has been a ‘deadly wake-up call’ that Britain needs to tackle obesity.
Obesity in the UK has steadily been increasing since the early 1990s, with figures estimating this now stands at over 60% of the population.
The UK has one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe, with almost two-thirds of adults being overweight or obese in England – figures are similar for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
One in three children in the UK are leaving primary school overweight while one in five are living with obesity, the government data explains.
Research by Public Health England reported that obesity increases the risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19.
Dr Alison Tedstone, Chief Nutritionist at Public Health England, said: “Losing weight can bring huge benefits for health – and may also help protect against the health risks of Covid-19. The case for action on obesity has never been stronger.”
The government has outlined their policy, entitled ‘Tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives’ on their website, here.
It explains that ‘COVID-19 has given us a wake-up call’ and that we should use this ‘to kick start our health, get active and eat better.’
The ‘Better Health‘ campaign promotes evidence-based tools and apps with advice on how to lose weight and keep it off.
This will be supported by a 12-week weight loss plan app, ‘expansion’ of the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme and ‘continued’ support for those that need to lose weight.
The policy also acknowledges that obesity is not just an individual’s effort, instead, it recognises the environment and subsequent information intake that navigate an individual’s choices.
For this, the government turns to nutritional labelling, acknowledging the seven years that have passed since the ‘traffic light’ scheme was first introduced.
The new legislation will require (large) cafes, takeaways and restaurants to provide calorie labels. They also intend to make companies provide calorie labelling on pre-packaged alcohol.
The policy also states that ‘the right information is important’ and looks to marketing tactics supermarkets use.
Research shows that 43% of food and drink products located in prominent areas, such as checkouts and aisle ends, are sugary – with less than one per cent being fruit and veg.
The government states they ‘will legislate to end promotion of HFSS products by volume’, for instance removing buy one get one free on high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) items.
Similarly, to protect children, advertisements for HFSS products will be banned on TV before 9pm and consultations regarding online media will be taken.
Director of Public Affairs at the Advertising Association, Sue Eustace, said the ‘extreme’ and ‘unnecessary’ measures will have ‘little effect’ on reducing obesity.
Instead, she explains they will have ‘wide-ranging ramifications’ for food businesses and online publishers who are currently trying to recover from the pandemic and lockdown.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “This deadly virus has given us a wake-up call about the need to tackle the stark inequalities in our nation’s health, and obesity is an urgent example of this.
“If everyone who is overweight lost five pounds it could save the NHS more than £100 million over the next five years. And more importantly, given the link between obesity and coronavirus, losing weight could be life-saving.
“Obesity is one of the greatest long-term health challenges that we face as a country.”
Most health experts have welcomed the moves but state that the government need to go further in addressing the multiple factors that contribute to obesity.
For instance, Adam Briggs, of the Health Foundation think-tank, said economic and social factors such as poverty and unemployment ‘drive poor health and inequalities’.
He pointed out that public health budgets held by councils have been cut – falling year on year – by £700 million between 2014/15 to 2019/20.
However, Chief Nutritionist at Public Health England explained that the ‘bold measures’ will ‘save lives’.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive, said: “This is a landmark day for the nation’s health.
“Being overweight or obese puts people at risk of many diseases, including 13 different types of cancer, and disproportionately affects people from poorer backgrounds so the plan will hugely help to level-up the country and build a healthier population.”
What do you think of the new changes? Let us know!
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Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
News
More human remains discovered in Greater Manchester as police identify victim
All the latest updates
Detectives investigating the discovery of a torso in Kersal Dale have found more human remains around Greater Manchester.
GMP released a statement on the weekend, revealing they had opened four scenes for extensive searches – one of them at a warehouse in Bury, and three in Salford.
Searches took place at Blackleach reservoir, where human remains were found, and a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood.
Officers believe they have now identified the man, who they believe to be a man in his 60s that lived in Salford, and his family have been informed.
Two suspects have already been arrested in connection with the murder probe, with officers saying they are thought to have lived with the victim.
Greater Manchester Police / Facebook
Detective Superintendent Lewis Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for this investigation, said in a statement at Blackleach reservoir yesterday, Sunday April 28th: “We have continued to make significant progress in our investigation into human remains being found in Kersal earlier this month.
“From day one, our priority has been to identify the man and his family so that we can give them the support and the answers that they need.
“Thanks to meticulous forensic work, we are now confident we have identified the man. Formal identification hasn’t yet taken place, but we believe he is a man in his 60s and lived in Salford.
“Specially-trained family liaison officers have met with his family this afternoon to give them the devastating news, and we will do all that we can to support them at this awful time.
“We believe he is known to the two suspects we have in custody. They have remained in custody for questioning over the weekend, as we work to establish how the victim met this tragic outcome.”
He continued: “We have painstakingly worked to follow up every line of inquiry in this investigation. Over the last couple of days, we have acted on information and had four scenes in place for extensive searches – one of them is at a warehouse in Bury, and three of them are in Salford, including here at Blackleach reservoir.
“Today, we have found some human remains at the reservoir here, and last night a dog walker found a package containing human remains at Colliery Wood. Forensic tests will continue to establish whose remains these are, but we are very confident that this is also the victim in our investigation.
“We have also been searching a house in Winton where we believe the victim and the two suspects lived. We have found evidence that the victim is likely to have died there – most likely in late March.
“While this is significant progress, we know there is still some way to go to complete this investigation. I also recognise details of this case will have been distressing for the people of Salford and beyond – including the officers that are diligently working on this investigation, and most importantly the man’s heartbroken family.
“Local officers will continue to patrol the affected areas, and we will provide updates when we have more information.”
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