To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating obesity related health problems in the last five years. [125142]

Figures for the cost to the national health service of treating obesity related health problems in the List five years are not available. However, the National Audit Office (NAO) report, "Tackling Obesity in England", published in February 2001, estimated that the direct cost to the NHS of treating obesity in 1998 was £9.4 million. The NAO also estimated that treating the consequences of obesity cost the NHS approximately £469.9 million for 1998.