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The Darzi Review, a new report from The Food Foundation using the Global Burden of Disease data, shows the deaths and number of years lost to disability resulting from obesity and poor diets across the UK. Public health experts are now calling for changes to how we eat to play a key role in saving the NHS.  

Jamie Oliver, celebrity chef and food campaigner, commented: "Sadly it isn’t new news that poor diet and obesity are the leading risk factors for preventable – entirely avoidable – diseases in the UK. But it is disappointing that this issue still isn't being prioritised, putting unnecessary strain on both the NHS and our workforce. It doesn’t have to be this way.

“The findings of the Darzi Review have shown that we need to prevent people getting ill in the first place to relieve pressure on the NHS, and diet is key to this. Across the world we’re seeing leaders take action, stopping the overwhelming bombardment of junk food advertising and making the healthy choice the easy one. And they’re reaping the rewards. Surely, it’s time our Government stepped up and followed suit.” 

The report highlighted that obesity is the leading risk factor for years living with disability in the UK, with the number of years having increased by a third (32%) in the last decade and doubled since 1990.

Over the course 2021, across the UK population an equivalent of 755,212 years of life were affected by disability due to obesity and people being overweight. Obesity and people being overweight was also responsible for nearly 40,000 deaths for adults aged 20+ in 2021, an increase of 13% in the last decade.

Dietary risks, such as eating too little fruit, veg and fibre or eating too much processed meat, red meat and foods high in fat, sugar and salt add further to the number of years living with disability and deaths. Recent figures from ONS estimate that as many as 2.8 million people aged 16-64 years are economically inactive because of long-term sickness.

Henry Dimbleby, the former Government food tsar and author of the National Food Strategy, added: “The Darzi Review has shown the true extent of the crisis the NHS is facing. If we are to move from treating sickness to preventing it, it is essential that we change the way we eat. The link between poor diets, ill health, disability and even death is shockingly clear.

“This has to stop. Now is the opportunity for the Government to introduce policies to ensure that everyone can access the foods needed to keep them healthy, and that the food industry is regulated to stem the relentless flow of junk food that has become a lethal cultural norm.” 

If on average everyone in the UK was to eat 30% more fruit and vegetables, 50% more fibre, 25% less high in fat sugar and salt foods and 30% less meat (as recommended but the National Food Strategy) this could have ‘significant’ impact.

The Food Foundation estimates that these changes could lead to at least a 10% reduction in both deaths and years living with disability due to dietary risk factors. That’s 6,000 lives saved and the total number of years living with disability reduced by around 29,000 years, every year. 

Anna Taylor, executive director at The Food Foundation, said: “In response to the Darzi Review, Wes Streeting says one of the three big shifts the NHS needs is from treating sickness to preventing it. This new data shows this must start with food. The new Government has an opportunity to reset our approach to food. 

“There are ‘no cost’ steps which can be taken immediately to make healthy and sustainable food options more accessible and affordable for all, and in turn reduce the risk of preventable disease and disability. The Government’s health mission should take these steps without delay.”