Obese adults set to outnumber those at healthy weight in UK within five years, report warns

Obese adults in Britain are on course to outnumber those who are a healthy weight within five years, a stark report has revealed.

Experts have warned there will be a “tipping point” in 2027 when one third of adults will be obese if current trends continue.

By 2040, they predict there will 21 million people classed as obese in the UK, and 19 million deemed to be overweight.

The analysis by Cancer Research UK shows seven in 10 (71%) people will be overweight or obese by 2040. Of this, almost four in 10 (36%) adults will be obese.

At present, 64% of adults are overweight or obese, with figures rising every year.

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of at least 13 different types of cancer and also causes other conditions such as high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

The new data comes after former Conservative leader William Hague attacked the government for postponing a ban on “buy one get one free” deals for foods high in fat, salt and sugar for a year because of the cost-of-living crisis.

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Source: The Independent, 19 May 2022