What are the major health issues facing the UK at the moment?

This question may come up during medical interviews to assess how broadly and widely you have been reading beyond your curriculum at A-level. When applying to medical school, it is important to be aware of the current challenges that face Medicine as a field and as a profession. Medical schools want to assess whether you have a good understanding of what you are dedicating your life towards. Currently, the UK faces several major health issues. We can start by considering the impact of the changing UK demographics: we now have an aging population. With that comes increased demand for adequate health and social care (primary and tertiary), as well as an increased prevalence and burden of all types of diseases (for example dementia, which currently has no known cure).

The UK also faces an obesity epidemic which Public Health England is trying desperately to tackle with different guidelines and recommendations. Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke and has been associated with other inflammatory conditions as well as cancer. 

Having now identified these key challenges, how do you propose we tackle them? Do doctors really have an important role in preventative measures?