The number of obese adults in England has doubled to 14.3 million since the UK's first obesity strategy was introduced in 1992, according to a new analysis from The King's Fund.

When John Major's Conservative government published its 'Health of the Nation' document, it aimed to reduce obesity among men by a quarter and women by a third. However, rates have since increased significantly.

Since 1992, a total of 13 national obesity strategies have been implemented, none of which have successfully curbed the crisis, the think tank's research indicates. The percentage of adults classified as obese or severely obese has risen from 15% in 1993 to 30% in 2024.

This increase means an additional 7.2 million adults are living with obesity compared to if the prevalence rates had remained at their 1993 levels. The analysis also highlights a particularly stark rise in obesity among young people. In 1993, just 6% of 16-to-24-year-olds were obese or severely obese. By 2024, this figure had tripled to 18%, equating to 1.1 million young adults.

This rise in obesity has significant economic and societal costs, estimated at approximately £126 billion annually. This includes an estimated £31 billion per year in lost productivity due to higher unemployment, increased sickness absence, and lower wages linked to obesity.

Dave Buck, a senior fellow for public health at The King's Fund, stated that successive governments have "talked the talk on obesity but have not sufficiently walked the walk." He emphasized that while new weight-loss drugs like GLP1s can be beneficial for some individuals, they are not a comprehensive solution. "They should be seen as a complement to, not a substitute for, longer term and effective preventive measures that address the fact the everyday food environment makes it far too easy for people to become unhealthy," Buck added.

The King's Fund is calling for urgent action, including making healthier food more accessible and affordable, holding food companies accountable, and empowering local leaders to improve community health. They suggest that current devolution agendas offer opportunities to tackle obesity, such as restricting junk food advertising in public spaces.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged that obesity is a major driver of ill health and costs the NHS billions annually. The department is working to make weight-loss jabs available through the NHS to those with the greatest need. They also noted that these treatments are part of a broader strategy that includes addressing the promotion of less healthy food and drink and encouraging healthier options and exercise.

For adults, a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight, and a BMI of 30 or more is classified as obese.