The Facts About Obesity

As obesity brings with it significantly increased risks and costs, it is important to consider the scale of the problem.

Obesity rates have quadrupled in the UK in the past 25 years¹
Around 22% of the UK population are currently overweight²
Obesity is responsible for more than 30,000 deaths each year³ – that's 6% of all deaths in the UK

As all these figures show signs of rising further, it is important to understand the implications for bariatric patients in the hospital environment.

Reduced skin integrity associated with reduced mobility
Poor respiration also associated with reduced mobility
Lack of independence
Loss of dignity resulting from manual handling and the additional burden of increased staff numbers to manage these patients

The impact of bariatric patients on healthcare professionals is equally profound.

In the NHS manual handling accidents account for 40% of all sickness absence⁴
The Occupational Health Magazine estimates the average Musculo-skeletal Disorder to cost the NHS over £44,000, and estimated to cost the NHS £400 million per year⁵

With its unique combination of therapies, BariAir ensures that the bariatric patient will be managed in an appropriate way.

With its advanced therapies, BariAir brings important benefits to the NHS.

For more information, view the BariAir Therapy System product page.

^Source:

^{1 House of Commons Health Committee. Obesity. Third Report of Session 2003-2004, Volume 1. London: The Stationery Office Limited, 2004.}

^{2 Joint Health Survey Unit (on behalf of the Department of Health). Health Survey for England. Norwich: The Stationery Office, 2002.}

^{3 National Audit Office Tackling Obesity in England. Report by the Controller and Auditor General. Norwich: The Stationery Office, 2001.}

^{4 National Health Service. [Online.accessed 01/10/08] <http://www.nhs.uk/backinwork/whatsup.htm>}

^{5 Occupational Health Magazine. [Online.accessed 01/10/08] <http://www.PersonnelToday.com>}

^{6 Hampton S. Pressure ulcer prevention of the morbidly obese patient. Nurse2Nurse 2004; 4(3).}

^{7 Gallagher SM, Tailoring care for obese patients. RN 1999; 62 (5): 43-50.}

^{8 Gough JM. Management of obesity in illness. British Journal of Nursing 1994; 3(11): 565-70.}