OBESITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

Early day motion 206, tabled 2 July 2014 by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 29 members.

That this House notes that obesity and being overweight have been identified as major public health challenges, that obesity is a risk factor in the development of a vast range of related conditions, including osteoarthritis, that an estimated eight and a half million people in the UK currently live with osteoarthritis, a number likely to rise due to the spread of obesity, that obese patients tend to have a worse outcome from joint replacement surgery in the short term compared to those with a healthy weight and that weight loss can have a substantial, positive impact on pain levels endured; welcomes Arthritis Care's recommendation that weight loss should be advocated as a first-line management approach and packages of support should be put in place based on assessments of need that are personalised to the individual and holistic; and calls on the Government to support this campaign in order to help people who have and who will develop arthritis.

Signatures by party: Labour 14, Liberal Democrat 6, DUP 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Respect 1.