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Obesity drug use rises rapidlyDate: 1/2/2008 10:25:47 AM
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The number of prescriptions for obesity drugs has increased significantly in recent years, according to a new study, indicating the increasing problem in the UK.
Research carried out by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care found that 1.06 million prescriptions for obesity medications were written in 2006.
This represents an eight-fold increase on the figure reported for 1999, 127,000 prescriptions written by GPs, and are focused mainly on two products called Sibutramine and Orlistat.
Last year, the cost of these drugs to the NHS was more than £47 million, a dramatic increase on the £4.9 million spent on such treatments in 1999.
The report did reveal, however, that greater numbers of adults and children in England are eating five portions of fruit and vegetables every day as recommended, with those on low incomes consuming the least.
"The lower your income, the more likely you are to smoke or be obese, and the less likely to eat sufficient fruit and vegetables or be active enough," said lead researcher Dr Jennifer Mindell from University College London.
"So not surprisingly, people with lower incomes also have worse health, with more people reporting heart disease or stroke, and having diabetes or untreated high blood pressure."
The study found that in 2006, 24 per cent of adults aged 16 and above, and 16 per cent of children between the ages of two and 15, were considered obese.
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