The Health News United Kingdom February 28 2018

• Health experts say that UK millennials are on track to be the most overweight generation since records began. Based on population trends, more than 7 in every 10 people born between the early 1980s and mid-90s will be too fat by the time they reach middle age. In comparison, about half of the “baby boomer” generation, born just after World War II, were fat at that age. Britain is the most obese nation in Western Europe, with rates rising faster than in any other developed nation. Obesity prevalence has been increasing in the UK, from 15% in 1993 to 27% in 2015.
• More than 1,000 students at the University of Birmingham accessed counselling services last year – with anxiety the most common reason for asking for help. The NUS said institutions across the UK were struggling to keep up with demand, with services often underfunded and not fit for purpose, and called on universities to do more to support students. During the 2016/17 academic year, 1,012 students at the university were registered with the counselling service, a rise from 763 in 2015/16.
• A helpline to battle growing mental health problems among UK troops has been launched by the Ministry of Defence – but it is not available to veterans. The MoD has pledged £20m over 10 years to fund the project, which will be operated by charity Combat Stress. The service will run in conjunction with the charity’s veterans’ helpline, which the MoD contributes to. Among the Royal Marines, there has been a 96% increase in the number of diagnosed mental disor
  

News on Health Professional Radio. Today is the 28th of February 2018. Read by Tabetha Moreto.

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-43195977

Health experts say that UK millennials are on track to be the most overweight generation since records began. Based on population trends, more than seven in every ten people born between the early nineteen eighties and mid-nineties will be too fat by the time they reach middle age.
In comparison, about half of the “baby boomer” generation, born just after World War Two, were fat at that age. Being fat as an adult is linked to thirteen different types of cancer, says Cancer Research UK, who did the analysis. According to the charity, the list includes breast, bowel and kidney cancer, but only fifteen percent of people in the UK are aware of the link.
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Britain is the most obese nation in Western Europe, with rates rising faster than in any other developed nation. Obesity prevalence has been increasing in the UK, from fifteen percent in nineteen ninety three to twenty seven percent in two thousand fifteen.

In two thousand fifteen, the highest obesity levels were seen in people aged fifty five to sixty four, but experts are concerned that younger generations are on track to become fatter still. Cancer Research UK wants to make the associated health risks clear to the wider public. Spokeswoman Professor Linda Bauld said: “Extra body fat doesn’t just sit there; it sends messages around the body that can cause damage to cells.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/thousands-birmingham-students-accessing-counselling-14325871

More than one thousand students at the University of Birmingham accessed counselling services last year – with anxiety the most common reason for asking for help.The National Union of Students said institutions across the UK were struggling to keep up with demand, with services often underfunded and not fit for purpose, and called on universities to do more to support students. During the two thousand sixteen and two thousand seventeen academic year, one thousand twelve students at the university were registered with the counselling service, a rise from seven hundred sixty three in two thousand fifteen and two thousand sixteen.

Numbers registered have remained mostly consistent across the past seven years, at around nine hundred, however two thousand sixteen and two thousand seventeen was the second highest total after one thousand twenty eight in two thousand eleven and two thousand twelve. The most common reason for students to seek help at the university was anxiety and stress, an issue for three hundred eighty six registrations in two thousand sixteen and two thousand seventeen, twenty five percent of the total. This was followed by depression, which was an issue for  nineteen percent of registrations. Students may present with more than one issue.

At Birmingham City University, nine hundred thirty nine students used counselling services in two thousand sixteen and two thousand seventeen, two hundred seventeen percent more than the two hundred ninety six who sought help in two thousand ten and two thousand eleven, although the number had fallen from one thousand twenty one in two thousand fifteen and two thousand sixteen.

Student Minds said when a student moves away from home and into university, a significant amount of their life is changing, they may be living independently for the first time, managing finances and competing priorities, as well as trying to secure a good degree in order to be able to navigate the career market upon graduation, with financial pressures, such as managing their money or balancing a job alongside studying, a key challenge.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43188139

A helpline to battle growing mental health problems among UK troops has been launched by the Ministry of Defence – but it is not available to veterans. The Ministry of Defence has pledged twenty million pounds over ten years to fund the project, which will be operated by charity Combat Stress.The service will run in conjunction with the charity’s veterans’ helpline, which the MoD contributes to.
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Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Mental illnesses caused by life on the battlefield can have a devastating impact on our brave heroes and their families.”Over the past ten years, despite a reduction in staff numbers, the armed forces have seen a forty seven percent rise in the number of personnel with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Among the Royal Marines, there has been a ninety six percent increase in the number of diagnosed mental disorders. Mister Williamson added it was his “moral and professional duty” to address the issue and set up the helpline.

Last year there were ten thousand calls to Combat Stress’s veterans’ helpline, which the MoD contributed ten thousand pounds towards. A spokesperson for Combat Stress said it was “vital” people sought help as soon as possible to stop issues becoming “complex”.