Copeland Health Profile 2010 - Cumbria County Council

Obesity
Obesity is when a person is carrying too much body fat for their height and sex. A person is
considered obese if they have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. In 2008 nearly a
quarter of all adults (16 plus) in England were obese. Just under one third of women, 32%,
were overweight (a BMI of 25-30), and 42% of men were overweight (NHS Choices 2010).
The number of overweight and obese people is likely to increase. The Foresight (2007)
report, a scientific report used to guide Government policy, has predicted that by 2025, nearly
half of men and over one third of women will be obese. Obesity can cause a number of
health problem, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Being overweight or obese can
also shorten life expectancy.
Figure 23: Patients with Body Mass Index >=30, (January 2009 to March 2010)
Patients over 16 with BMI of >=30
16.3% 16.1% 15.7% 15.0% 14.9%
12.9% 12.8%
10.9% 10.7%
7.4%
Hinnings
Road
Surgery
Lowther
Medical
Centre
Catherine
Street
Surgery
Mansion
House
Surgery
Westcroft
House
Queen
Street
Medical
Practice
Seascale
Health
Centre
Flatt Walks
Health
Centre
Beech
House
Group
Practice
Trinity
House
Surgery
Data taken from the GP QOF (Quality and Outcomes Framework) registers shows a varied
picture across Copeland regarding obesity, see figure 23. Of those patients measured as
many as 16% and as few as 7% were recorded as obese when viewed at practice level.
Looking at Copeland as a whole this converts to an average obesity rate of 13%. This is
above the county average of 10.5%.
Data taken from the NHS Cumbria Obesity Atlas 2010 examines QOF data in more detail for
the period 2006/09. This is shown in table 4. Here data are shown at ward level with a
district and county comparison. The table shows firstly: of those patients who have been
weighed the proportion classified as obese. Secondly of the obese group of patients the
proportion of that group who are also suffering from a long term condition. It must be
remembered that not all of a practices population have been measured. On average 40% of
patients in Copeland had their BMI recorded during the period.
Copeland Health Profile
J Clay
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