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Childhood obesity

Overweight children are relying on ventialtors because they’re too obese to breathe

Last year kids as young as six-years-old needed NHS treatment because they couldn't get enough oxygen in their blood

BRITAIN's childhood obesity epidemic has worsened as kids now have to rely on ventilators to breathe because they're so overweight.

Children as between the ages of six and 15-years-old required treatment last year for alveolar­hypoventilation, a condition which leaves sufferers struggling to get oxygen in their blood.

One case in the UK saw a one-year-old baby rushed to hospital and diagnosed with life-threatening difficulties which were triggered from morbid obesity.

 Britain's overweight children are having to rely on ventilators because they're so fat they can't get enough oxygen in their blood
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Britain's overweight children are having to rely on ventilators because they're so fat they can't get enough oxygen in their blood

A probe of hospitals in England found that there were nearly 9000 "episodes of care" for children and adults, which is up from 500 in just 10 years, reports Sunday Mirror.

Since the figures by the Health and Social Care Information Centre were released, experts have issued warning about how the UK's spiralling obesity is negatively impacting the NHS.

The rise in poverty, fast food consumption and irresponsible advertising have all been noted as the causes of the growing epidemic.

Also, overweight women having fat babies, low level activity and minimal safe public places to exercise are also factors being blamed.

 In England, there have been reports that there were nearly 9000 episodes of care for children and adults, which is up from 500 in just 10 years
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In England, there have been reports that there were nearly 9000 episodes of care for children and adults, which is up from 500 in just 10 years

Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum said: “When you have children that young with this condition you know Britain really is in serious trouble. It is horrendous.

“People who are already fat are getting even fatter. It is a terrible reality that these numbers are going to keep on increasing for as long as there is no proper, tough strategy to bring obesity down."

Last year alone, obesity-relation conditions cost the NHS over £6 billion and its thought this figure is set to rise to £9.7 million by 2050.

Tam also highlighted the issue of obese mums giving birth to babies weighing more than 11lbs and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

 In England, there have been reports that there were nearly 9000 episodes of care for children and adults, which is up from 500 in just 10 years
3
In England, there have been reports that there were nearly 9000 episodes of care for children and adults, which is up from 500 in just 10 years

He warned: “We have more and more obese women ‘eating for two’ during pregnancy and delivering very, very large babies.

“Once you are born large you stay large. These babies don’t have a hope in hell.

And although this week's Queen's speech announced the go-ahead of the 2016 tax on sugary drinks, campaigners are still calling on David Cameron to fulfil his pledge.

During the election, the Prime Minister promised to deliver a national childhood obesity method, but the country is yet to see a successful one put in place.

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