Conor Stewart
Research expert covering health & pharmaceuticals in the UK & Europe
Get in touch with us nowObesity prevalence in England 2000-2021, by gender
The prevalence of obesity among adults in England has been generally been trending upwards since 2000. In that year, 21 percent of men and women in England were classified as obese. However, by 2021 this share was 26 percent among women and 25 percent among men.
Obesity causing strain on health service
As the prevalence of obesity is increasing in England, the number of hospital admissions as a result of obesity has also increased. In the period 2019/20, around eight thousand women and nearly 2.7 thousand men were admitted to hospital. A huge rise from the admission levels fifteen years previously. The highest number of admissions due to obesity were found in the age group 45 to 54 years, with over 3.1 thousand admissions in that age group.
Situation in Scotland
In Scotland in 2020, the mean Body Mass Index of women was 27.8 and for men it was 27.5. A BMI of over 25 is classed as overweight. While the prevalence of obesity or morbid obesity in Scotland in this year was 30 percent among women and 26 percent among men.
Obesity causing strain on health service
As the prevalence of obesity is increasing in England, the number of hospital admissions as a result of obesity has also increased. In the period 2019/20, around eight thousand women and nearly 2.7 thousand men were admitted to hospital. A huge rise from the admission levels fifteen years previously. The highest number of admissions due to obesity were found in the age group 45 to 54 years, with over 3.1 thousand admissions in that age group.
Situation in Scotland
In Scotland in 2020, the mean Body Mass Index of women was 27.8 and for men it was 27.5. A BMI of over 25 is classed as overweight. While the prevalence of obesity or morbid obesity in Scotland in this year was 30 percent among women and 26 percent among men.
