BMJ 1996;312:1440 (8 June)

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Britain is failing to meet targets on reducing obesity

People in Britain are getting fatter and nearly 90% have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, says a 1994 survey published by the Department of Health last week. The annual survey monitors progress towards the government's Health of the Nation targets for cardiovascular disease and is one of the largest and most detailed surveys of its kind in England.

The number of obese people increased from 12.7% to 13.2% of men and from 15.0% to 16.0% of women between 1991 and 1994. These findings confirm a trend of increasing weight since the mid-1980s. Dr Helen Colhoun, senior lecturer in clinical epidemiology in the department of epidemiology and public health at University College London and an editor of the survey report, said: "Increases in weight are not dependent on our genes. People need to increase their levels of physical activity."

The survey highlights strong social class differences: in social . . . [Full text of this article]


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