In 2023 to 2024, 64.5% of adults in England were estimated to be ‘overweight or living with obesity’. This is an increase of 0.5% from the previous year, consistent with a nearly decade-long upward trend.
Weight loss made headlines this morning, following new breakthroughs in obesity research.
Statistics from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities reveal that 69.7% of men were deemed to be ‘overweight’, and this increased with age, with rates peaking in the 55 to 64 years age group.
Additionally, 26.5% of adults were estimated to be living with obesity, a slight increase from the previous year.
Nonetheless, physical inactivity rates have gone down by 6%, with 22% of people aged 19 years and over being physically inactive, whilst 67.4% were active. In 2023 to 2024, 31.3% of adults reported eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, an increase of 0.5% from the previous year. Women and adults aged 55 years and over were more likely to meet this target.
Polimapper has visualised the data from the OHID, revealing geographical disparities in health trends.
At a local authority level, Hartlepool registered the highest rates of ‘overweight’ adults in 2023/2024, at over 77%. This was followed by New Forest (76.6%) and Stockton-on-Tees (76.1%). Conversely, the London areas of Islington and Hammersmith and Fulham saw the lowest prevalence, less than13%.
Physical inactivity was highest in Blackpool (37%), Sandwell (35%) and Luton (34%), whilst Slough and Blackburn with Darwen saw the lowest percentage of adults meeting the 5-a-day fruit and vegetable consumption target, below 19%.
About this map
The map shows geographical statistics on overweight and obesity prevalence and contextual indicators.
To view statistics in your area double click on the map or click here to launch the full page visualisation.
Geodata context
Breakthroughs in obesity research made headlines this morning. A recent study has revealed the best jab for weight loss. The weight loss drugs Zepbound and Wegovy showed improvements in health markers with Zepbound showing a higher rate of achieving significant weight loss.
Further research reveals that weight-loss jabs can even almost halve the risk of obesity-related cancers.
Dr Matthew Harris, at the Manchester Cancer Research Centre: “[weight-loss jabs] provide genuinely fantastic weight loss, and may provide an intervention that could be delivered on a population-scale, where we have not been able to achieve this before”.
Finally, additional studies show that overweight children who reach healthier BMI before age six are no longer at higher risk of obesity.
Dr Dinesh Giri, consultant paediatric endocrinologist at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children: Over the past 15 years, obesity in adolescents has risen significantly due to a combination of increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, sedentary lifestyles driven by excessive screen time, inadequate sleep, and rising mental health challenges.”
“Additionally, reduced opportunities for physical activity and socioeconomic disparities have further contributed to an environment that promotes unhealthy lifestyles.”