Poor lifestyle threatening kids' health

A health epidemic is sweeping the UK and is having a significant negative impact on the country's children, according to a new BBC Panorama report.

Doctors, surgeons and nurses at Europe's busiest paediatric hospital, Liverpool's Alder Hey, are treating an increasing number of cases involving youngsters with preventable conditions caused by unhealthy lifestyles.

It is estimated that over £1 million and endless hours of resources at this one hospital alone are being spent every year on unnecessary childhood health problems including obesity, tooth decay and even alcohol abuse.

The hospital's medical director Steve Ryan told the BBC: "It just shouldn't be happening. These children should not be suffering from these problems and they should not be here at this hospital.

"People are starting to say maybe this is a generation where children will be dying before their parents."

Alder Hey provides medical care for more than 200,000 children each year. Taking out a family health insurance plan can help with costs in the event of unpreventable illness, however people could find it much harder to acquire affordable cover if they follow unhealthy lifestyles.

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