Obesity Statistics 2023: Facts and Figures in the UK

What classifies you as obese?

Some people don’t realise they’re overweight until it’s too late. That’s why there is a medical classification for weight.

Weight is measured by body mass index or BMI. Your BMI is calculated using your height and weight. It tells you how much you should weigh based on your height.

BMI is the primary way to diagnose those who are clinically overweight or underweight. It’s not an ideal tool for everyone.

For instance, if you do strength training, a BMI calculator will not factor in muscle mass which may give you unreliable results.

What is an overweight BMI?

You can use the following formula to work out your BMI:

BMI = weight (kg) / (height (m))²

The formula will give you a value that will say whether your weight is healthy or not. There are also several tools online that will do it for you.

The BMI chart below shows the weight ranges based on BMI.

BMI Chart

Underweight below 18.5

Healthy weight 18.5 to 24.9

Overweight 25 to 29.9

Obese 30 to 39.9

If you have a BMI of 40 or more, you are deemed morbidly obese.

How many people in the UK are obese?

According to the most recent NHS health survey Trusted source The House of Commons Library Government Source UK Parliament Research Go to source in England, 25.9% of adults are obese and a further 37.9% are overweight but not obese.

Over 25% of UK adults are classed as obese.

Obesity rates in the UK are higher in men. 68.6% of men are obese or overweight, compared to 59% of women.

They also found that obesity rates increased with age. They found that almost three-quarters of people aged 45-74 in England are overweight or obese.

Several other factors can influence obesity rates. Statistics Trusted source Public Health England Government Source Health and Social Care Indicators Go to source published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities show that:

• People who live in more deprived communities are more likely to be overweight or obese. 67.6% of people in the most deprived areas were overweight or obese compared to 59.3% in the least.
• Certain ethnicities had higher obesity rates. Black (70.8%) and White Britsh (65.2%) people had the highest rates of obesity in England. The lowest was Chinese (33.1%).
• Disabled people were more likely to be overweight or obese (72.2%) compared to those without a disability (61.7%).
• They found that how educated a person was also affected obesity rates. Those with no qualification had rates as high as 71%, compared to those with a level 4 qualification or above (60.1%).

These percentages have steadily increased throughout the years.

How have obesity rates changed throughout the years?

Obesity rates in England have risen dramatically throughout the years.

In 1993, the amount of people who were obese or overweight was 52.9%. The amount of people who were obese was 14.9%.

Experts Trusted source UK Government Publications Government Source Go to source have predicted that obesity rates will continue to rise without serious intervention.

By 2040, 7 in 10 people will be classed as overweight or obese in the UK.

One analysis predicted that 21 million adults in the UK will be obese by 2040. It also predicted that the percentage of UK adults who are classed as overweight or obese will be 71% by 2040. That’s roughly 7 in every 10 people.

Why are obesity rates increasing?

There is no clear answer to the rapid obesity rates across the globe.

One common hypothesis among researchers Trusted source BMC Peer-reviewed Journals Global Health Policy and Health Systems Go to source is that it is down to modernisation in the Western world. This theory is heavily debated.

We do know, on the other hand, that obesity has two core causes among individuals: eating too much and doing too little.

Diet

A balanced diet is important for healthy living. However, changing trends in UK diet culture have added to rising obesity rates.

• Only 28% Trusted source Health Survey for England Government Source Go to source of adults eat the daily recommended amount of fruit and vegetables.
• The average salt intake in 2020 was 2.4g Trusted source UK Health Security Agency Blog Government Source Public Health and Safety Go to source higher than the recommended intake (6g).
• Over 50% Trusted source PubMed Government Source Database of Biomedical Research Go to source of the average calorie intake comes from ultra-processed foods.
• 25% of men and 11% of women Trusted source NHS Digital Government Source Go to source drink more than the recommended weekly allowance.
• Takeaway consumption has increased by 8.3% Trusted source UK Government Services and Information Government Source Go to source since 2016.

All of these factors lead to poor diet and obesity.

Exercise

Inactivity rates are contributing to our obesity.

An NHS report Trusted source NHS Digital Government Source Health and Social Care Digital Services Go to source found that 22% of adults were considered inactive as they do fewer than 30 minutes of physical activity a week. Activity levels generally fall with age and sharply decrease at 75 and above.

Obesity and your health

Being overweight negatively affects your body in many ways. It puts you at a higher risk of a seemingly endless list of health problems such as heart conditions, diabetes, muscle and bone problems, cancer and many more.

Below are some statistics for the most prevalent obesity complications.

Heart disease

Obesity damages your heart and the rest of your cardiovascular system. It causes damage to your blood vessels and excess fatty deposits to build up.

This restricts your blood flow across your body and puts a strain on your heart muscle. It puts you at a higher risk of several cardiovascular conditions. Below are some obesity and heart disease statistics.

If you’re overweight, you are twice as likely Trusted source Health Survey for England Government Source Go to source to have high blood pressure (hypertension). A 2020 study Trusted source National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Government Source Biomedical Research and Literature Go to source estimated that 65-78% of cases of high blood pressure are caused by obesity.

Being obese also raises your risk of high cholesterol, blood clots, heart failure and other heart conditions. Damage and strain on the heart can result in cardiac-related death if left untreated, such as from a heart attack.

Research from the British Heart Foundation found that 31,000 circulatory disease-related deaths in the UK every year are associated with being overweight.

Diabetes

Obesity is one of the leading causes of diabetes. Excess abdominal fat causes a chemical reaction that means the body is less sensitive to insulin.

According to an NHS public health survey Trusted source UK Government Publications Government Source Go to source , 90% of adults with type 2 diabetes in the UK are overweight or obese. In addition, around 60% of people with type 1 diabetes are overweight or obese.

Cancer

Being overweight does not guarantee cancer. But, a lot of evidence suggests it can put you at a higher risk of getting certain cancers.

Evidence compiled by Cancer Research UK suggests that more than 1 in 20 cases of cancer are caused by being overweight. A healthy weight can also significantly reduce your risk of 13 types of cancer.

For example, you are 7 times more likely Trusted source PubMed Government Source Database of Biomedical Research Go to source to develop endometrial cancer if you are severely obese. You are 2 times more likely to develop liver Trusted source PubMed Government Source Database of Biomedical Research Go to source , kidney Trusted source PubMed Government Source Database of Biomedical Research Go to source and oesophageal cancer Trusted source PubMed Government Source Database of Biomedical Research Go to source .

This is because excess fat on your body affects your body in several ways. It increases rates of growth hormones, inflammation and oestrogen. All of which can increase your rate of cancer cells developing.

Mental health

Obesity can also impact your mental health.

One study Trusted source National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Government Source Biomedical Research and Literature Go to source found that overweight people are at a 70% increased risk of developing mental health disorders.

A combination of factors can lead to mental health issues in obese people, including negative thoughts surrounding appearance (body dysmorphia), isolation from immobility and increased hormone levels.

Childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is also on the rise in the UK.

The most recent National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) Trusted source UK Government Services and Information Government Source Go to source reported that 10.1% of children aged 4 - 5 and 23.4% of children aged 10 - 11 were obese.

They found that obesity rates were slightly higher in boys. This is most prevalent in ages 10-11 where there is a 6% difference.

Causes

There are several causes for these rates. The main cause is unhealthy eating.

The results of the most recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey Trusted source UK Government Services and Information Government Source Go to source showed that children of all ages exceeded the daily recommended sugar and saturated fat allowances but didn’t reach the recommendations for more beneficial nutrients such as fibre.

Children also have low activity rates. A recent Sport England Active Lives survey found that only 45% of young children meet physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

Obesity and the NHS

Obesity is a huge strain on public healthcare. A recent NHS report Trusted source NHS Digital Government Source Health and Social Care Digital Services Go to source found that 1 million hospital admissions in England were linked to obesity in 2019 - 2020. This had increased by 17% compared to the previous year.

Obesity could cost the NHS over £9 billion by 2050.

These rising admission rates come at a cost. Public Health England Trusted source UK Government Services and Information Government Source Go to source reported that the NHS spent over £6 billion on obesity and overweight-related health problems in 2017. They predict this number will have increased by over £9 billion by 2050.

How many people die from obesity?

Untreated obesity is a prevalent cause of death. The World Health Organisation estimates that at least 2.8 million people Trusted source World Health Organization (WHO) Government Source International Public Health Information Go to source die a year globally from being overweight or obese.

Research Trusted source University of Oxford Educational Institution Multidisciplinary Studies Go to source by the University of Oxford also found that moderate obesity can reduce your life expectancy by 3 years, whilst in those with severe obesity the figure is as high as 10 years. Other studies Trusted source National Institutes of Health (NIH) Government Source Biomedical Research Go to source have found this number is as high as 14 years.

These statistics are scary but these health risks can be avoided if you lose weight.

What to do next

Eating healthier food and introducing light exercise into your daily routine is the best first steps to healthy weight loss.

Undoing years of exercise and diet habits is hard. It is why many people struggle to lose weight on their own.

Several prescription weight loss medications can help. At HealthExpress, we offer clinically proven weight loss treatments.

We have weight loss injections such as Wegovy and Saxenda. We also offer weight loss tablets like Mysimba and Xenical (Orlistat).

Start your weight loss consult to see if you are eligible for treatment.