London: Eight out of 10 men and almost seven in 10 women in Britain will be overweight by 2020, a new report has claimed, unraveling the trend of deteriorating
public health in the country.
Rising levels of obesity in adults is one of major health
concerns for governments around that world and the new report
is expected to put more pressure on public health systems.
According to the report by the UK`s National Heart Forum,
by the end of this decade, people will not only be fatter but
the incidence of diabetes, stroke and heart disease will also
increase dramatically.
Led by Prof Klim McPherson from Oxford University, the
study predicted that some 41 per cent of men aged 20 to 65
will be obese by 2020 and 40 per cent will be overweight, the
Daily Mail reported.
Meanwhile, 36 per cent of women will be obese and 32 per
cent will be overweight, said the study, which has updated
predictions in a 2007 Foresight report, to predict future
levels of obesity in England.
"Unlike the recent report on child obesity, which showed
some indications of a plateauing or at least a significant
reduction in the rate of obesity, the future projections for
adults are less optimistic," it said.
While suggesting that childhood obesity may be levelling
off, the report said the picture for adults is far `less
optimistic`.
PTI