Overweight and obesity in adult and children
This report examines the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults and children in England in 2019. It compares prevalence rates in different population groups by age, sex, and indicators of economic deprivation. Associated health risks for adults and the links between parental and child overweight and obesity are also considered.
Highlights
- 27% of men and 29% of women were obese. Around two thirds of adults were overweight or obese, this was more prevalent among men (68%) than women (60%).
- Obesity increased with age from 13% of adults aged between 16 and 24, to 36% of those aged 65 to 74. It was lower among adults aged 75 and over (26%).
- 59% of men and 69% of women had a higher than desirable waist circumference (higher than 94cm for men or 80cm for women). This proportion increased broadly in line with age, from 29% of adults aged 16 to 24, to 83% of those aged 75 and over.
- Inequalities were seen for both obesity and raised waist circumference. Adults living in the most deprived areas were the most likely to be obese. This difference was particularly pronounced for women, where 39% of women in the most deprived areas were obese, compared with 22% in the least deprived areas.
- Most children aged between 2 and 15 were neither overweight nor obese: 69% of boys and 73% of girls were normal weight. However, 18% of boys and 13% of girls were obese. Children’s obesity was closely associated with their parent’s BMI status. While 7% of children with mothers who were neither overweight nor obese were obese themselves, 27% of children with an obese mother were obese, and there was a similar pattern in relation to fathers’ BMI status.
Download the report and tables here.