Should the Tax Payer foot the bill for obesity?

Last month in the UK it was announced that one man was costing the NHS £100,000 to treat due to his obesity. This started a debate across the nation if he should be treated as he was the cause of his size for eating over 20,000 calories a day.

The One Show covered the story last week forming a perspective from formerly obese Charlie Walduck who lost 35 stone from his 50 stone frame. I am glad they used someone with a direct relation to Paul Mason – the gentleman that is currently suffering with his weight. The program looked at many perspectives using experts; Tim Fry from the National Obesity Forum, Dr. Matt Capehorn from Rotherm Institute for Obesity and Fatima Parker of the International Size Acceptance Association.

There did seem a bias argument in the documentary with Fatima having very little time to express her perspective but I must admit that good points were raised from the exploration. Fatima expressed everyone should be looked after no matter their size and that you should “try and look after yourself, fat or thin.” Which confirms the point I was making with my previous article on Fat Acceptance; health can be achieved at any size.

Rather than putting obesity into a blame situation, it is a serious illness and should be treated as so, rather than ridiculed and debated over. As Dr. Capehorn expressed, it is the cause which should be tackled before over-eating happened. The cause of obesity is not over-eating but a reason much deeper to which eating becomes the only way out. Food in this instance then becomes addictive, just like drugs; we treat drug addicts so why should anyone in society be singled out for the cost on the NHS and the treatment they need?

I would really appreciate your comments and views on this subject matter, please view the program below and let me know your thoughts.