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Facts and figures on obesity - a global epidemic
• In the UK obesity has almost tripled in the past 20 years.
It has been estimated that by 2010, one in four adults will be obese (4).
• It has been estimated that 2-8% of the total sick care costs
in Western countries are attributable to obesity (4).
• In Europe the prevalence of obesity has increased by
approximately 10-40% in the past 10 years. Prevalence in European
countries ranges from 10-20% in men and 10-25% in women (4).
• There are 58 million adults who are overweight in America;
40 million are obese and 3 million morbidly obese (4).
• In 1998 WHO declared childhood obesity as a global epidemic. An estimated
17.6 millionchildren under the age of 5 are overweight worldwide (1).
• In developing countries it is estimated that over 115 million people
suffer from obesity related problems (5).
References
1) www.who.org
2) National Audit office (2001). Tackling obesity in England
3) www.cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/omd
4) www.weight-loss-i.com/obesity.htm
5) www.iotf.org
6) Gallagher S.M. (1999). Restructuring the therapeutic environment to promote care and safety for the obese patient. Journal of Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing; 26:292-7
7) Thompson G. Achieving handling excellence for the larger patient with a specialist ‘Transfer Chair’. Abstract, Wounds – UK, Harrogate 2004
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