UK obesity rates double since 1990 with 17 million Britons now obese
Obesity rates have doubled since 1990, with 17 million Britons now falling into this category.
A report in The Lancet also shows the number of obese people globally surpassed one billion in 2022. The World Health Organisation said food and drink manufacturing industries must be held to account for the impact of their products.
The UK’s female obesity rate rose from 13.8 per cent in 1990 to 28.3 per cent in 2022. For men it rose from 10.7 per cent to 26.9 per cent. Among children and adolescents the rate jumped from 4.7 per cent to 10.1 per cent for girls and 4.3 per cent to 12.4 per cent for boys.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, said: “Getting back on track to meet global targets for curbing obesity will take the work of governments and communities. Importantly it requires the cooperation of the private sector, which must be accountable for the health impacts of their products.”
Britain’s obese population is made up of eight million women, 7.4 million men, 760,000 boys and 590,000 girls. It ranked 87th highest globally for adult women in 2022, up from 94th in 1990. UK men ranked 55th in 2022, up from 63rd. Globally the obesity rate more than doubled in women, nearly tripled in men, and more than quadrupled in girls and boys, from 1990 to 2022.
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It comes as middle classes grow in large countries like India and China and access to junk food increases. Places with the highest prevalence of obesity included several Pacific islands. Dr Ghebreyesus added: “This study highlights the importance of preventing and managing obesity, through diet, physical activity, and adequate care.”
The study, led by Imperial College London, found 532 million people were underweight globally in 2022. Author Professor Majid Ezzati said: “It is vital we improve the availability and affordability of healthy, nutritious foods.”
Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England's national clinical director for children and young people, said: "These figures will be as alarming to parents as they are to the NHS.
"Obesity affects every human organ system, and so at a young age can have a major impact on a child's life, increasing their risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, mental health issues and many other illnesses, which can lead to shorter and unhappier lives.
"The NHS is committed to helping as many young people and families affected by extreme weight issues as possible through our new network of 30 specialist clinics, which offer tailored packages of physical, psychological and social support - but the NHS cannot solve this issue alone, and continued joined-up action by industry and wider society is needed if we are to avoid a ticking health timebomb for the future."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are taking firm action to tackle obesity, which costs the NHS around £6.5 billion a year, while balancing cost pressures due to increased food prices.
“Our Soft Drinks Industry Levy has nearly halved the amount of sugar in soft drinks, removing 46,000 tonnes in total, and our sugar reduction programme has led to reductions in sugar levels in breakfast cereals, yogurts and milk based drinks.”
“We introduced mandatory calorie labelling in large restaurants, cafes, and takeaways in April 2022, helping people make informed choices for themselves and their families when eating out. In October 2022, we also introduced locations restrictions, which mean that less healthy food can no longer be placed in key selling locations in supermarkets.”
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