THIS week I watched two BBC programmes which discussed the NHS crisis.
The One Show took the easy route and claimed the problem is an ageing population and not enough money. Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, host of Britain's Fat Fight Fight clearly and convincingly said the problem is two-thirds of us are obese and the consequent Type 2 diabetes epidemic is "the biggest health crisis we have in the country". Yet neither Health Minister Jeremy Hunt nor any Scottish politicians talk about it.
Of the £124 billion spent on NHS England £15bn goes to treating Type 2 diabetes. Very little is spent on preventative measures. This is incredible, especially since the real solution is regulation of food ingredients and marketing, public education and simple acts such as everyone being weighed when visiting a GP who then gives advice on weight loss and exercise.
As long as governments do not admit to the problem, and programmes such as The One Show blame funding and oldies and don't point out that tackling obesity would save money and lives, the problem will get worse.
Nicola Sturgeon deserves praise for pushing through minimal alcohol pricing. I hope she turns her attention to measures to curb obesity. She could start by going on the BBC and telling it like it is.
Allan Sutherland,
1 Willow Row, Stonehaven.
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