UK: Obesity and smoking prescriptions on the rise

Prescriptions for drugs that treat obesity and help people quit smoking are rising in Scotland, according to new statistics. The past year saw over 394,000 prescriptions written for smoking cessation drugs, a 31% increase over the previous year. Obesity treatment drug prescriptions saw an increase of 3% over the previous year. Around 10,500 people, or .23% of Scotland's population, are using obesity drugs daily. "They're may be the magic bullet in ten years' time, but not yet," observed Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum and Child Growth Foundation. "It is a good reminder to everyone, for their own sake, that they should be keeping themselves in shape as much as possible." The Scotsman.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/health/Sharp-rise-in-use-of.6192417.jp

Date Posted: 7 April 2010