Overweight and obesity in adults and children:
This report examines the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults and children in England in 2018. It compares prevalence rates in different population groups by age, sex, region and area deprivation, and looks at associated health risks. Children’s BMI status is compared with that of their parents.
Highlights
- The majority of adults in England in 2018 were overweight or obese; 67% of men and 60% of women. This included 26% of men and 29% of women in England who were obese. 2% of men and 4% of women were morbidly obese.
- 34% of men and 48% of women had a very high waist measurement, indicating central obesity.
- Adult obesity was associated with neighbourhood deprivation. In the least deprived areas 20% of adults were obese compared to 36% of adults living in the most deprived areas.
- More than half of adults (56%) were at increased, high or very high risk of chronic disease due to their waist circumference and BMI. Women were more likely than men to be in the high or very high risk categories (46% and 35% respectively).
- In 2018, 28% of children aged 2 to 15 were overweight or obese including 15% who were obese.
- Children’s overweight and obesity was associated with that of their parents. 26% of children of obese mothers were also obese, compared with 16% of children whose mothers were overweight but not obese, and 7% of children whose mothers were neither overweight nor obese. Similarly, 22% of children of obese fathers were themselves obese, compared with 14% of children whose fathers were overweight but not obese, and 9% of children whose fathers were neither overweight nor obese.
Download the tables for this report here.
Estimates of the number of adults and children in England in different body mass index categories are available.
Download the population number estimates here.