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Obesity hospital admissions much higher for women, say new figures
For the tenth year running, UK hospital admissions for obesity in women were much higher than for those in men, according to figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).
Results taken from 2012-13 show that female admissions for obesity were more than twice as high as men, with 8,010 females being recorded, compared to 2,950 cases for males.
However, data also highlights that admissions with a primary diagnosis of obesity (10,960) fell seven per cent compared to 2011-12.
Despite this drop on the previous year, the latest overall figure is more than eight times the 2002-03 total for admissions with a primary diagnosis of obesity recorded, which stood at 1,280.
The latest numbers show a slight drop in obesity admissions compared to the previous year across most age groups, although those for patients aged under 16 have increased from 500 to 560 – a rise of 12 per cent.
There has also been an increase in admissions for patients aged 65 and over, with 590 obesity admissions recorded, compared to 560 during 2011-12.
"Obesity has been a public health issue for many years and can increase the risk of disease and long-term illness. Despite a recorded fall in admissions, hospitals still admitted over 10,000 cases with a primary diagnosis of obesity last year,” said Alan Perkins, CEO of the HSCIC.
"The past 10 years of data show hospitals have dealt with considerably more women for obesity than men and it will be interesting to see if this pattern changes in coming years."
According to the institute, approximately a quarter of the UK adult population was obese in 2012.