New report calls for greater action on key women’s health issues

The government chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies has issued a report calling for renewed action on tackling a number of key women's health issues.

In her latest annual report, entitled 'Health of the 51%: women', obesity is highlighted as one of the biggest risks to women's health, with 56 percent of women aged 35 to 44 and 62 percent of those aged 45 to 54 classified as overweight or obese in 2013 in England alone.

The chief medical officer drew particular attention to the need to address the issue of obesity among pregnant women, with many mistakenly believing in a need to "eat for two", when in fact obesity can increase the risk of miscarriage and premature birth.

Dame Sally said: "This is a difficult message to convey, as it risks burdening women with guilt and responsibility, but I believe that it can also empower women to take positive steps like eating more healthily and taking more exercise."

Other issues highlighted by the report include taboo issues such as incontinence and the menopause, as well as ovarian cancer, the second most common gynaecological cancer and the most lethal.

It was also recommended that medical services and staff training be revamped to ensure they are better equipped to address female-specific issues.