A new study done in UK says that bad diet habits among the British are affecting the health service in the country. The annual cost of the health services in UK is around six billion pounds. It is estimated that this is three times more than the smoking toll in the country.

Oxford University researchers say that their findings imply that there are more dietary targets needed from the government, the same as as those that deal with smoking. The data was taken from the World Health Organisation by researchers to calcuate the link between death and poor health from food. After which the cost of disease associated with finance and health was reviewed in relation with food. A term was used to define the relation between poor health and death with food, it was DALY (disability adjusted life years).

It was reported in a well-known health magazine that link between food related diseases and DALY was 37 per cent and only a small amount was linked with food poisoning. Cardio problems, diabetes and cancer accounting for most of this small amount.

Experts say that diet cannot be help responsible for all cardiovascular problems and diabetes. This accounts to 28 per cent of the health service cost in UK. However, the researchers calculated that the accountability of food is 10 per cent of all DALY, costing six billion pounds annually, which is twice the cost of the services for accidents on roads and thrice on smoking and higher than obesity.

The researchers say that their calculation might be in the initial stages and very crude but might be reasonable. Right now the government is keen on dealing with children’s diet with new health campaigns. They are trying to stop the advertisements for junk food.