Statistics on Obesity, PA & Diet: England, Jan 08 i Compiled by Sally Cornfield on behalf of PAN-WM Headline Findings

Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) In 2006 almost 4 in 10 (38%) of adults were overweight & nearly a 1/4 were obese (24%) ii. (Figure 1) If current trends continue it is predicted that a 1/3 of men (36%) & 3/10 women (28%) aged 21-60yrs in England will be obese by 2015 iii. By 2025, 47% of men & 36% of women in the same age group are likely to be obese in England iii. Men are more likely to be overweight than women (43% & 32% respectively) & are heavier than women in all age groups (2006) ii. (Figure 2) There is no significant relationship concerning gender & obesity, however women (3%) are more likely to be morbidly obese than men (1%) (2006) ii.

Figure 1 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Figure 2 Office of National Statistics (2008) Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity & Diet: England. January, The Information Centre, Lifestyle Statistics. Available at: %20final.pdf Proportion of adults who are overweight including obese, by age & gender, 2006

Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) As shown in Figure 2, for both men & women overweight & obesity increased with age. Men aged had the highest prevalence of 80% before decreasing to 69% at 75yrs+ (2006) ii. Among women the prevalence overweight & obese was at its highest at 65-74yrs & unlike the men’s prevalence remained similar in those aged 75yrs+ (2006) ii. In 2006 mean BMI was similar for men (27.2kg/m 2 ) & for women (26.8kg/m 2 ) ii. Almost 4 in 10 adults (37%) had a raised waist circumference in Women in all age groups were more likely to have a raised waist circumference (41%) compared with men (32%) ii. (Figure 3)

Figure 3 Office of National Statistics (2008) Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity & Diet: England. January, The Information Centre, Lifestyle Statistics. Available at: %20final.pdf Proportion of adults with a raised waist circumference, by age & gender, 2006

Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) Trend data reveals that the prevalence of normal BMI has decreased between 1993 & 2006 in both men (41% - 32%) & women (49% - 42%) ii. (Figure 4) Trend data reveals no significant relationship regarding the prevalence of overweight, however there is a higher prevalence of obese men (24%) & obese women (24%) in 2006 compared with in 1993 (men; 13%, women; 16%) ii. (Figure 5) Trend data regarding waist circumference reveals that the proportion of adults with a raised waist circumference has increased since 1993 from 23% to 37% in 2006 ii. This is true for both men & women, (Figure 6) The prevalence of raised waist circumference increases with age for both men & women & in 1993 & 2006 apart from the 75+ age group where prevalence is reduced ii.

Figure 4 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Figure 5 Office of National Statistics (2008) Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity & Diet: England. January, The Information Centre, Lifestyle Statistics. Available at: %20final.pdf Prevalence of obesity among adults, by gender, 1993 to 2006

Figure 6 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Figure 7 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

PA & Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) PA levels are related to BMI status. The proportion of men with high PA levels fell from 44% among those who had a normal BMI to 31% among those who were obese to 16% among those morbidly obese iv. (Figure 8) For women among those with a normal BMI 30% had high PA levels falling to 18% among those who were obese & morbidly obese iv. (Figure 8) The pattern is similar between PA & raised waist circumference. Men & women with low PA levels were around twice as likely to have a raised waist circumference compared to lose with high PA levels iv. Despite clear evidence relating high PA levels to lower obesity levels only 3.5% of adults sited ‘to lose weight’ as their reason for participating in PA. ‘To lose weight’ was ranked 5 th as the main reason for participation by adults v. (Figure 9)

Figure 8 Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Available at: icationsStatistics/DH_ icationsStatistics/DH_

Figure % 29.7% 9.2% 3.5% 8.7% Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, Annual Report 2005/2006. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Available at: 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm 7/tps_annualreport0506.htm

PA & Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) In 2003 the prevalence of overweight including obese men was 71% among those with low levels of PA, falling to 69% among those with high PA levels IV. (Figure 11) The same pattern for men was seen for obesity, with 28% reporting low PA Levels being obese compared to 18% of those with high PA levels IV. (Figure 11) A similar pattern was seen among women; 63% of women reporting low PA levels were overweight including obese & 29% were obese. This fell to 48% & 16% respectively among women who reported high levels of activity IV. (Figure 11)

Figure 10 WomenMen BMI by summary PA levels & gender, 2003 Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Available at: icationsStatistics/DH_ icationsStatistics/DH_

Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) The HSE 2006 looked at risk factors for long term health conditions in relation to obesity (BMI of 35kg/m 2 or more) & raised waist circumference. The results showed that 1/5 men and almost 1/4 women were at very high risk of health problems due to obesity (Figure 11). Risk increased with age, peaking at 65-74yrs; 30% of men & 34% of women were in this category ii. In 2006 the proportion who were obese was related to equivalised household income. Among women in the highest income quintile, 19% were obese whereas in the lowest income quintile this rose to 32%. (Figure 12) The same was true for raised waist circumference (36% in the highest; 47% in the lowest) ii. (Figure 13) There was no apparent relationship for men although the prevalence of overweight was generally positively related to income in men ii. (See Figure 12)

Figure 11 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at: No increased risk Increased risk Very High risk High risk

Figure 12 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at: Men Women

Figure 13 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) The HSE 2004 vi reported on obesity within specific ethnic groups & revealed that Bangladeshi & Chinese men had the lowest prevalence of overweight including obese (44% & 37%) & of obesity (6%) (Figure 14) & the lowest proportion with raised waist circumference (8%). Black Caribbean & Irish men had the highest prevalence of obesity (both 25%) (Figure 14) & Irish men had the highest proportion with raised waist circumference (33%) vi. Women from Black African (70%), Black Caribbean (65%) & Pakistani (62%) ethnic groups were amongst those with the highest prevalence of overweight including obese, & obese (38%, 32% & 28% respectively) (Figure 14) Black African women had the highest proportion with raised waist circumference ( 53% ) vi. Chinese women had the lowest prevalence of overweight including obesity (25%) & obese (8%) (Figure 14) & of raised waist circumference ( 16% ) vi.

Figure 14 Obesity prevalence among adults by minority ethnic group & gender, 2004 Office of National Statistics (2008) Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity & Diet: England. January, The Information Centre, Lifestyle Statistics. Available at: %20final.pdf

Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) Information on relationships between marital status & obesity can be found in the 2006 Obesity, PA & Diet vii report. Married or co- habiting men were the most likely to be obese vii whilst widowed women were the most likely to be overweight including obese vii. For both men & women, those who were single were least likely to be either obese or overweight including obese vii. Relationships between additional lifestyle habits & obesity have also been investigated. In 2003 men who were current smokers were less likely to be overweight including obese (55%) & obese (15%) those who had never regularly smoked (64% % 21%) or were ex-regular smokers (79% & 31%) iv. (Figure 15) Among women, current smokers had the lowest prevalence of overweight including obese (50%) increasing to 55% for those who had never regularly smoked & 65% among ex-regular smokers iv. The proportions for obese were similar for current (20%) & never regular smokers (22%) but higher among ex-regular smokers (29%) iv. (Figure 15)

Figure 15 Prevalence of obesity, among adults by smoking status & gender, 2003 Office of National Statistics (2008) Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity & Diet: England. January, The Information Centre, Lifestyle Statistics. Available at: %20final.pdf

Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) In 2006, ex regular smokers were more likely than those who have never smoked to have a raised waist circumference ii. Relating obesity to alcohol consumption, the 2003 HSE found that 61% of women who did not drink in the week prior to interview or who had consumed less than the maximum daily recommended amount of alcohol (3 units or less) on their heaviest drinking day (56%) had a higher prevalence of overweight including obese iv. This is compared to 50% of women who had drunk between 3-6 units & 49% who had drunk more than twice the daily amount were overweight including obese iv. (Figure 16) For men, those who did not drink at all in the week prior to the interview were less likely to be overweight including obese that those who drank at any level iv. (Figure 16) No significant relationship was found between alcohol consumption and raised waist circumference in 2006 ii.

Figure 16 Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Available at: icationsStatistics/DH_ icationsStatistics/DH_ Women Men

Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) The proportion of men in England & Scotland (2003) who were overweight including obese was the same (65.4%) iv, viii & was similar for obesity (22.4% in Scotland viii, 22.2% in England iv ). However men in Scotland showed significantly higher rates of morbid obesity than those in England (1.6% & 1% respectively). Men in Scotland had a slightly lower prevalence of raised waist circumference (28% viii ) compared with men in England (31.1% iv ). The proportion of women in Scotland (2003) were more likely to be overweight including obese than women in England (59.7% iv & 55.5% viii respectively). The same was true for obesity (26% in Scotland viii, 23% in England iv ) & morbid obesity (3.4% viii & 2.9% iv respectively). There were no significant differences between women in Scotland & England for the proportion with a raised waist circumference (38.9% viii & 41.1% iv respectively).

Figure 17 Men in England Men in Scotland Women in England Women in Scotland Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Available at: Statistics/DH_ Statistics/DH_ The Scottish Health Service Scottish Executive Health Department, 2005 Available at:

Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) Among the different Government Office Regions in England 2006, age standardised obesity prevalence for men varied from 19% in London to 29% in the West Midlands (Figure 18) & for women from 21% in London to 29% in the West Midland ii. (Figure 19). Age standardised overweight including obese prevalence for men also varied from 61% in London to 76% in the West Midlands (Figure 18) & for women from 49% in London to 62% in the West Midland ii. (Figure 19). There was also some variation between GO Regions for prevalence of raised waist circumference. Among men the age standardised prevalence ranged from 30% in London & Yorkshire & The Humber to 37% in the South West ii. (Figure 20) The same was true for prevalence of raised waist circumference among women ranging from 37% in the North West to 45% in the South West ii. (Figure 20)

Figure 18 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Figure 19 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Figure 20 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at:

Obesity Headline Statements (Adults) 2004 data reveals that the average prevalence of overweight including obesity among European countries is 47.5% vi. (Figure 21) Of the EU countries prevalence of obesity ranged from 23.0% in Malta to 8.1% in Italy (Figure 21) & the prevalence of overweight from 43.3% in Greece to 27.8% in France (Figure 21) while overweight including obesity ranged from 61.0% in the UK to 37.1% in France vi. (Figure 21) Overall prevalence statistics for the UK are obesity 22.7%; overweight 38.3% & overweight including obesity 61.0% vi. (Figure 21)

Figure 21 Health Survey for England The Information Centre, 2006 Available at:

References i Office of National Statistics (2008) Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity & Diet: England. January, The Information Centre, Lifestyle Statistics. Available at: ii Health Survey for England The Information Centre, Available at: iii Foresight Tackling Obesities: Future Choices 2nd Edition – Modelling Future Trends in Obesity & Their Impact on Health. Foresight, Government Office for Science, Available at: iv Health Survey for England The Department of Health, Available at: v Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, Annual Report 2005/2006. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Available at: htm htm vi Health Survey for England The Information Centre, 2006 Available at:

References cont. vii Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, The Information Centre, Available at: viii The Scottish Health Service Scottish Executive Health Department, 2005 Available at: