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Revealed: the fat map of London
Sophie Goodchild, Evening Standard28.08.08
A new "fat map" of Britain today reveals the location of London's obesity hotspots for the first time.
More than one in 10 health trusts in the capital has record levels of patients on the "at risk" list for being overweight.
Barking and Dagenham primary care trust comes top of London's obesity league followed by Bexley then Havering and Enfield.
Camden, Richmond and Twickenham and Wandsworth are at the other end of the table.
The new findings reveal Britain's obesity epidemic is spreading.
The figures are from a report by Dr Foster Research which warns that many doctors are still not taking obesity seriously despite the serious impact on health.
A study published two years ago showed the problem was confined to the Midlands and North of England but doctors in London and the South-East are now identifying increasing numbers of patients who are developing weight-related problems including diabetes and heart disease.
The Dr Foster study, called Weighing Up the Burden Of Obesity, said it caused 9,000 premature deaths a year. It will increase pressure on ministers to tackle the problem.
Dr Colin Waine, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said even a modest reduction in weight can reduce blood pressure and the risk of diabetes.
He said: "It's important that people understand both the dangers of obesity and the benefits to their health of losing weight. We strongly urge anyone who might be at risk to see their GP."
There could be as many as 12million obese adults by 2010. Obesity rates have doubled in 25 years with about one in four people now obese.
Health watchdogs issued new guidance on tackling the problem two years ago. This included weight loss surgery.
The Government has also published a national obesity strategy aimed at improving attitudes towards healthy eating.
Reader views (16)
Glad I live in Wandsworth...what must it be like in Newham, with all those fatties waddling around, sweating all over each other? Ugh.
- Pork Pie, London
All the eating places in Barking and Dagenham sell fattening food. The supermarkets are no better doing buy one get one free offers only on the most unhealthy foods. If you have little money then these are the offers you are more likely to be looking for. The wealthy boroughs have a lot more choice on their high streets than we do out here.
- Jackie, Dagenham
Adrian MATE.
Let me take you by the hand and walk you through the streets of Newham.
- Chris, London
There is a trend in the East London Boroughs. They have large populations if Africans. (Stand back to await the racist chants) Visit any Chinese - all you can eat for a fiver - restaurants and see who is in there.
- Bj, London
Chris, my friend, what do you all the ethnics?
Maybe you should eat them, might do you a world of good!
What do you eat?
Better than drinking and kebabs and a curry!
Chicken and chips replaces school dinners!
- Adrian, London
Is it possibly due to motivation? People in poorer boroughs are poor because they are less motivated career-wise and do not attain higher paid work, for better or worse they have other priorities in life (family, leisure etc).
The same goes for fitness. It takes effort and motivation to consistently attend a gym or get out on a bike or go running, especially during the winter months.
People with low motivation are unfortunately likely to go for fast and easy options - ie fast food to eat and telly for entertainment.
- Mcw, London
I think it is the prevalence of slimming clinics in smarter parts of town. I assume you can't walk into one in Barking and get your legal speed.
- Tom, Wimbledon
I live in east London and all it is, is dodgy fast food restaurants and fried chicken tops the list. How can people here eat as healthy as those in the more affluent areas when the average person earns less and on every other corner is a Khan's kebab?
- Scott, London, England
Matthew - I would suggest that there is a closer correlation between Conservative and Labour control, there are rich and poor in every borough. The effectiveness of the political leadership is the real decider.
- Joe, London
Mathew's assumption is incorrect, Barking and Dagenham and Newham both have high levels of deprivation.
There is a correlation however between poverty and poor diet which leads to health issues including obesity.
- David, London
Anything to do with all the ethnics living on Chicken and Chips?
- Chris, London
But why do the poorer sections of our society eat more food and smoke more?
They'd be better off saving their money
- Adam, London
To be fair to the good folk of Dagenham, it is so hard to follow a diet program or to show self restraint when your whole borough is filled with the finest restaurants and eateries that London has to offer.
- Dagenhampstead, Hampstead Garden Suburbs nee Dagenham
Matthew in London, it is not all about throwing money at a problem.
The government has been throwing money at things since 1997, the result is that we have no reserves heading into the biggest economic dip since the 1970s.
When will you bitter, twisted and envious socialists discover the concept of personal responsibility?
- Swiss, UK
I suspect if you superimposed a map of boroughs traditionally perceived as wealthy over this fat map, you might find quite a lot of correlation. So no surprises there, then!
- Matthew, london
Who ate all the pies?
- John S, london
