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Individuals experiencing severe obesity problems, as a result of diabetes or otherwise, could reduce their risk of death with weight loss surgery.

According to an article published by German scientists in the latest issue of the Lancet, the worldwide incidence of "bariatric surgical procedures" has increased more than fivefold in five years in most developed countries.

In a new study they investigated the gastric-restrictive type of bariatric surgery, which limits food intake, as well as the malabsorption type, which decreases the amount of food absorbed in the digestive tract.

Both methods’ effectiveness has traditionally been measured in terms of weight reduction, while the latest study explored their effect on "obesity-related co-morbidities", affecting a range of systems including the heart and metabolism.

"New data indicate that at least some bariatric procedures exert their beneficial metabolic effects not only by weight loss but also through a change in hormone release from the gut," wrote Dr Michael Korenkov and co-worker Dr Stefan Sauerland.

They continued: "This finding corresponds to clinical observations that obesity in patients with diabetes is especially amenable to bariatric surgery."

As well as obesity, diabetes sufferers face the risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and blindness, which all significantly reduce life expectancy and quality of life.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with diabetes or obesity

Individuals exploring the possibility of stroke insurance could help themselves by keeping fit beyond their 40th birthday, it has been suggested.

Scientists from the University of Cambridge found that people over 40 who were still able to climb stairs, kneel, bend and lift potentially cut their chances of a stroke by half.

Their study, published in the latest issue of journal Neurology, examined 13,615 men and women in the UK from 1993 to 1997 who were between the ages of 40 and 79 and had not suffered a stroke, heart attack or cancer.

They completed a self-reported test on their physical function 18 months later, stating how well they were able to climb stairs, carry groceries, kneel, bend and lift, while the researchers monitored how many strokes were suffered in the group during 2005.

"People who reported better physical health had significantly lower risk of stroke," confirmed study author Phyo Kyaw Myint.

"This is independent of the known risk factors for stroke in the general population," added Dr Myint, referring to considerations including age, blood pressure, smoking and diabetes.

Several scientific studies have previously concluded that increasing physical activity and eating more fruit and vegetables may also help reduce stroke risk.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with medical conditions

Obesity, diabetes and an increased risk of cancer may be linked, it has emerged.

Studies presented at the latest American Association for Cancer Research conference in Pennsylvania indicated that weight gain and diabetes are connected to a higher risk of getting a number of cancers affecting both men and women, including breast, prostate and colorectal cancer.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota revealed that women with diabetes were 1.5 times more likely to develop colorectal cancer than women who did not have the metabolic disorder.

"Colorectal cancer and type-two diabetes share a number of common factors, including obesity, so it is interesting to see the direct line between these two conditions," remarked the university’s Dr Andrew Flood.

Speculating on the findings, scientists at the conference suggested that the higher level of insulin typically found in type-two diabetes sufferers could contribute to the elevated cancer risk.

They concluded that breast cancer patients should aim to lower their blood insulin levels, by exercising and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with obesity, diabetes and cancer

Press coverage of obesity adds to insurance difficulties by confusing the public, it has been suggested.

According to the National Obesity Forum (NOF), differing reports about the effect of obesity on health have led to the confusion.

NOF chair Dr Colin Waine criticised coverage claiming that obesity does not necessarily affect health, with consumers told conflicting stories from different sources.

"There is no doubt that the earlier in life you become obese the shorter is your life expectancy," stated Dr Waine.

He added that more consideration should be given to the knock-on effects of published claims suggesting obesity does not have an adverse effect on a person’s health.

Research by the government’s Foresight programme warned last month that a quarter of children, 60 per cent of men and 50 per cent of women in the UK will be obese by 2050 if current levels continue.

Positive aspects of England’s health pinpointed by the report, however, included an increase in life expectancy and a decline in deaths from cancer and circulatory disease.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with obesity

Obesity has become a "growing risk factor" for pregnant women, it has emerged.

A new report entitled the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health (CEMACH) revealed that out of 295 women who died of pregnancy-related conditions in the UK between 2003 and 2005, half were obese and 15 per cent were classed as extremely so.

"Obesity is fast emerging as the public health issue of our generation and its impact on maternity must be taken seriously," confirmed Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Gwyneth Lewis, CEMACH director, added: "Healthy mothers have healthier pregnancies and healthier babies.

"The fact that more than half of the women who died were obese or overweight, and that preventable causes of cardiac disease were the leading cause of death, shows that strong public health messages are needed both before and during pregnancy."

Adding to national concerns about an impending obesity epidemic, the CEMACH follows a recent review of public health which revealed that England has the highest levels of obesity in Europe.

The Department of Health’s report indicated that diabetes and alcohol-related hospital admissions and deaths from chronic liver disease are also on the up.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with obesity, diabetes and alcohol problems

Overweight men on the lookout for prostate cancer insurance could be impeded by their size, it has been suggested.

A new study led by Duke Prostate Centre researchers in the US revealed that doctors could fail to spot cancers in obese men because of the blood marker used to detect the disease being mistakenly interpreted as low.

"Obese men have more blood circulating throughout their bodies than normal weight men and as a result the concentration of prostate-specific antigen - PSA - in the blood can become diluted," explained senior researcher Dr Stephen Freedland.

"We’ve known for a while that obese men tend to have lower PSA scores than normal weight men, but our study proposes a reason why this happens, and points to the need for an adjustment in the way we interpret PSA scores that will take body weight into account," he added, pointing out that otherwise, a large number of cancers could be missed every year.

During the study the team compared the medical records of almost 14,000 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy surgery between 1988 and 2006.

Several previous studies have linked obesity to aggressive prostate cancers.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with obesity and prostate cancer

UK customers exploring their obesity insurance options may want to re-consider the use of anti-obesity drugs, it has been suggested.

According to a study published on the online BMJ (British Medical Journal), people who take such drugs will only see "modest" weight loss while many will remain significantly overweight.

Looking at the long-term effectiveness of anti-obesity medications, Canadian researchers found that three drugs recommended for long-term use reduced weight by less than five kilogrammes.

The health benefits associated with taking the drugs varied, with one found to reduce the incidence of diabetes and all three lowering patients’ cholesterol levels.

However negative effects recorded included an increased risk of mood disorders such as depression or anxiety.

Professor Gareth Williams also warned of the potential damage to society if anti-obesity drugs are licensed to be sold without prescription.

"Selling anti-obesity drugs over the counter will perpetuate the myth that obesity can be fixed simply by popping a pill and could further undermine the efforts to promote healthy living, which is the only long term escape from obesity," he stated.

Current UK guidelines recommend using drug therapy in addition to making lifestyle changes if a patient has a body mass index greater than 30.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people with obesity, diabetes and depression or anxiety

In news of interest to people looking for prostate cancer insurance, a study has found that men who are overweight or obese when diagnosed are at greater risk of death after treatment.

Dr Jason Efstathiou, from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, revealed his study’s conclusion this week that overweight and obese men at the time of diagnosis were nearly twice as likely to die from locally advanced prostate cancer as patients who had a normal body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis.

"While obesity has been identified as a risk factor for more clinically aggressive prostate cancer, the impact of obesity on survival following treatment is less understood," explained Dr Efstathiou.

"These treatments may include the complete surgical removal of the prostate, external beam radiation, and hormonal therapy," he continued.

With his team of investigators, he followed 788 patients with locally advanced prostate cancer for over eight years to examine any independent relationship between BMI and prostate cancer-specific mortality.

While similar associations between obesity and disease-related mortality have been pointed out in the past, Dr Efstathiou and his co-authors emphasised that further studies are needed to look at whether weight loss after prostate cancer diagnosis alters an individual’s prospects.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with prostate cancer

Scientists may have discovered how an "obesity gene" increases weight gain in some people.

According to the UK-based researchers, the finding could herald hope for the future treatment of obesity as well as related conditions including diabetes and cancer.

"We know that obesity increases people’s risk of developing a range of cancers as well as other diseases, and the increasing number of people who are overweight will have significant implications for cancer in the future," commented Sara Hiom, director of health information at Cancer Research UK.

Adding that the scientists had produced "an important piece of research", Ms Hiom stated: "Unravelling how this gene works is very exciting and may one day lead to new treatments for obesity."

She pointed out that maintaining a healthy body weight through a balanced diet and regular physical activity is important for general health as well as reducing the risk of many cancers.

Previous studies have shown that about half of people in the UK carry a copy of the "obese gene" and are on average 1.6kg heavier than those without it.

England has the highest levels of obesity in Europe, according to a recent review of public health.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with obesity

England has the highest levels of obesity in Europe and diabetes is on the rise, according to a review of public health.

Although some aspects of the nation’s wellbeing appear to have improved, the Department of Health’s report showed that alcohol-related hospital admissions and deaths from chronic liver disease are also on the up.

Public health minister Dawn Primarolo admitted "there is still a lot to do in tackling health inequalities".

"To address this we have already announced major improvements to GP services across the country - greater flexibility in opening times, and over 100 new GP practices in the 25 per cent of [primary care trusts] with the poorest provision," she commented.

The Health Profile of England follows Foresight’s warning last week that a quarter of children, 60 per cent of men and 50 per cent of women will be obese by 2050 if current levels continue.

Positive aspects of England’s health pinpointed by the report included an increase in life expectancy and a decline in deaths from cancer and circulatory disease.

The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with obesity and diabetes