Search: Obesity surgery increases
Weight loss surgery carried out on obese people increased by 40% last year, according to new figures.
The NHS performed 2,724 cases in 2007/08 of "bariatric surgery", which includes stomach stapling, gastric bypasses and sleeve gastrectomy, according to a report from the NHS Information Centre.
Overall hospital admissions for obesity also increased, up 30% from the previous year to 5,018.
From 2006 to 2007 the number of NHS prescriptions dispensed on the NHS to treat obesity increased by 16% to 1.23 million.
Drugs commonly prescribed for weight-loss include Sibutramine, which alters chemical messages to the brain controlling feelings and thoughts about food, and Orlistat, which prevents fat absorption in the intestine.
The statistics on obesity, physical activity and diet in England showed that men, women and children have become more obese in the past decade.
In 2007 24% of adults were classed as obese, with a body mass index of 30 or more, with men and women equally likely to be overweight.
The percentage of obese women increased from 16% in 1993 while the percentage of men increased from 13%.
Since 1995 the percentage of obese boys (aged two to 15) increased 6% to 17% while the percentage of obese girls was up 4% to 16%.
Advertisement starts
Advertisement ends
Chief executive of The NHS Information Centre Tim Straughan said: "The report highlights the scale of the country's obesity problem and shows increasing NHS treatment using weight-loss surgery and medications."
