New obesity pill costs more than monthly gym fees!

A new obesity pill is available on prescription in the UK from today.

Apparently it controls appetite and can therefore help the obese patient reduce their weight significantly. This, of course, is good news as it will help reduce their risk of heart disease and diabetes, particularly as it has been shown to reduce the fatty deposits in arteries and organs.

There are side effects such as nausea, dizziness and diarrhorea, though these are reported to be short lived by the manufacturer (perhaps predictably). Another side effect is that these “once a day” pills cost £55 (GBP) per patient per month.

I know that these pills will mostly be prescribed to those who cannot lose weight by other means, such as changes in lifestyle, but it does get me thinking about health care priorities.

My monthly gym membership is £44 (GBP) per month. For this I get access to a superb 25 metre swimming pool, a huge cardiovascular suite, spa and free fitness classes covering a wide range of subjects from aerobics to Yoga. This is also for peak access so I can use these facilities from about 7am to 10pm seven days a week.

What are the side effects? Well I feel fitter and healthier than ever. I can walk long distances without feeling tired. I can swim a mile in 40 minutes and oh, by the way, I’m losing weight too!

Why does the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) invest so much in drugs? The NHS could get some great discounts with commercial gyms and fitness centres - or even better still - open its own dedicated facilities. It would save millions of pounds per year and yet create a fitter, healthier population.

The National Health Service would then live up to its name rather than its current status, at least in my opinion, of the National Illness Service.

Add comment June 29th, 2006 Written By: chris