Obesity admissions in Hertfordshire buck national trend by falling slightly over past year

The figures reveal that obesity was the primary or secondary cause of around 15,600 hospital admissions for patients in the county during the 2023 financial year.

The previous year there were 15,905 admissions where obesity was either the primary or secondary cause.

This trend goes against the UK-wide picture, as nationally admissions have increased 8% on last year, when 1.1 million were recorded.

The figures also revealed how many prescriptions were issued for Orlistat, a treatment for obesity available on the NHS that prevents some fat consumed from being absorbed by the body.

Across the NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex and NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board areas there were 9,681 prescriptions issued for Orlistat in the year ending March 2023.

This is an increase of 11% on the previous year, and is slightly below the average nationally, where prescriptions have risen by 12% over the same period.

Earlier this month the Labour Government confirmed it will introduce legislation to ban companies advertising products deemed high in fat, salt and sugar on television before 9pm.

The ban is due to come into force in October 2025.

Dr Kawther Hashem, head of research and impact at campaign group Action on Sugar, said: "The rise in obesity and the unhealthy food environment we are surrounded with are key contributing factors which need to be urgently addressed by the Government.

"This must include introducing the delayed restrictions on unhealthy food advertising, expanding on the success of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to unhealthy food products and improving nutritional labelling on products.

"Now, more than ever, we need a food environment that ensures healthier options are available, accessible and affordable to everyone."

In response a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "This Government is urgently tackling the obesity crisis head on - shifting our focus from treatment to prevention - to ease the strain on our NHS and helping people to live well for longer.

"This includes restricting junk food advertising on TV and online, empowering councils to block the development of new fast-food shops outside of schools, and banning the sale of energy drinks to under 16s."