Figures show steep rise in 'lifestyle diseases'
Pastor Dale Morgan
Figures show steep rise in 'lifestyle diseases'*
By Nic Fleming, Medical Correspondent
Last Updated: 1:50am BST 29/09/2007
Poor diet, lack of exercise and an increase in alcohol abuse has led to
steep rises in those suffering from lifestyle diseases in the past five
years, according to official figures published yesterday.
Levels of diabetes have more than doubled in that period, showed figures
released by the Information Centre, a body responsible for NHS data.
While the number of people with high blood pressure has risen by more
than a third in five years — one in nine people now seeing their GP is
suffering from high blood pressure.
The number of people with epilepsy increased by 15.6 per cent and those
with heart disease by 6.2 per cent.
While some of the rises are down to better screening and an ageing
population, charities said unhealthy diets and insufficient exercise
among large sections of the population were also boosting illness rates.
Figures from the Department of Health suggest 21.2 per cent of men and
21.5 per cent of women are now classified as obese.
The diabetes epidemic is being driven mainly by the increase in Type 2
diabetes, the form of the disease that is linked to poor diet and lack
of exercise.