Adult obesity levels rising in many areas

OVER A THIRD OF OVER-18S IN ONE DISTRICT

- By STAFF REPORTER

A growing number of areas in England are estimated to have at least a third of adults living with obesity - many of them in the Midlands or the North East, new figures suggest.

A total of 44 local authorities in England had at least 33.3 per cent of adults likely to be obese in 2023/24.

They included North West Leicestershire, with 34.2 per cent of adults likely to be obese.

However, the proportion in the city and elsewhere in the county was lower - and had fallen from the percentage in 2022/23 (see table).

The estimates were published by the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID), using data from the Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey.

They suggest that West Lindsey in Lincolnshire had the highest proportion of people aged 18 and over living with obesity in the year to March 2024, at 38.8 per cent, followed by Hartlepool (37.9 per cent) and Bolsover in Derbyshire (37.9 per cent).

The entire top 10 are located either in the Midlands, Yorkshire or the North East.