§ Earl Russellasked Her Majesty's Government:
How strong is the evidence for correlation between inadequate diet and the incidence of cancer and heart disease, and what is the annual cost to the NHS of treating each of these conditions.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)The relationship between diet and cancer is presently being reviewed by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy. Its report is expected in the autumn. The estimated expenditure in 1992–93 to the National Health Service of treating cancer was £1,300 million.
The relationship between an unbalanced diet, high levels of serum cholesterol and coronary heart disease is strong and consistent and is the basis for the dietary targets in the Health of the Nation to reduce the contribution of total fat and saturated fatty acids in the population's diet. The estimated expenditure in 1992–93 to the NHS of treating coronary heart disease was £800 million.