RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The burden of food related ill health in the UK JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health JO J Epidemiol Community Health FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 1054 OP 1057 DO 10.1136/jech.2005.036491 VO 59 IS 12 A1 Mike Rayner A1 Peter Scarborough YR 2005 UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/59/12/1054.abstract AB Study objective: To quantify the burden of ill health in the UK that can be attributed to food (the burden of food related ill health). Design: Review and further analysis of the results of work concerned with estimates of the burden of disease measured as morbidity, mortality, and in financial terms and with the proportion of that burden that can be attributed to food. Main results: Food related ill health is responsible for about 10% of morbidity and mortality in the UK and costs the NHS about £6 billion annually. Conclusions: The burden of food related ill health measured in terms of mortality and morbidity is similar to that attributable to smoking. The cost to the NHS is twice the amount attributable to car, train, and other accidents, and more than twice that attributable to smoking. The vast majority of the burden is attributable to unhealthy diets rather than to food borne diseases.