Obesity rates in England have increased since the pandemic, with nearly one in three adults now affected, according to concerning analysis published in The Lancet's Diabetes and Endocrinology journal. The study, which analyzed NHS health records for nearly 55 million adults over six years, indicates a worsening crisis and highlights significant disparities across the country. Researchers noted that individuals residing in the poorest areas of northeast England are six times more likely to be obese than those in central London.
"Levels of obesity in England have worsened since the pandemic, with nearly one in three people now affected," stated Professor Robert Fletcher, a co-author of the study. "We're also seeing large disparities across the country: the percentage of adults affected by obesity in northeast England is six times higher than in central London." He added that differences on this scale are rarely observed in other public health areas.
The analysis found that obesity rates increased by 4 percent in 2025 compared to pre-pandemic levels. Young adults experienced the most significant rise, with obesity rates increasing by almost a fifth in individuals aged 30 to 39. Rates of new obesity cases rose by 16 percent in adults aged 20-29, while rates decreased among older adults aged 60-79.
Socioeconomic factors play a significant role, with obesity rates found to be 35 percent higher for those with the highest socioeconomic deprivation and lowest incomes compared to the highest earners. The proportion of people affected by obesity in some parts of northeast England was nearly six times higher than in the most affluent parts of central London, where just over 8 percent of people were obese. This gap was even wider for women, with new cases of obesity over 50 percent higher among the most deprived.
Obesity, defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over or based on a clinician's diagnosis, is particularly concerning in people of reproductive age due to its associations with infertility, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and childhood obesity, which may perpetuate intergenerational cycles of health inequality. Overall, obesity is now more common than high blood pressure and nearly three times as common as smoking.
Experts are calling for fundamental changes to social and economic factors driving obesity, alongside expanded access to treatments and tailored prevention strategies. "The drugs on their own are unlikely to be the answer," Professor Fletcher commented, noting that the cost and private prescription model of new weight loss drugs pose barriers for disadvantaged individuals. Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, emphasized that "Obesity is primarily not about will power. These new, powerful data indicate that those most at risk frequently reside in the most obesogenic environments and likely have the least agency to withstand such environments."
At current trajectories, 40 percent of people across many high-income countries are expected to be obese by 2050. Obesity has been linked to at least 13 different types of cancer, including breast, bowel, and pancreatic cancer, in addition to putting pressure on the heart, kidneys, and liver. The researchers stressed the critical importance of accessible, whole-population health data for research, surveillance, and timely action to address widening health inequalities.