Obesity rates have doubled in England since 1993 - what's going on?

Obesity rates in England have doubled since 1993, according to new analysis from the King's Fund. "If England's obesity rates were inactive the aforesaid arsenic 1993 determination would beryllium 7 cardinal less adults surviving with obesity." There are 14 million adults classified as obese, despite successive governments launching 14 separate obesity strategies over the past three decades. It is clear something is not working; what is driving the increase? And what can be done about it? According to recent investigation by the King's Fund, 15% of England's adult population – those aged 16 and over – was obese in 1993, with rates reaching a high of 30% in 2024. Their investigation suggests obesity rates are rising fastest among 16‑ to 24‑year‑olds, with 18% classified as obese or severely obese in 2024 compared with just 6% in 1993. Accounting for population change, this means there are now 1 million young adults living with obesity in England – 700,000 more than if rates had not risen over the past three decades. Dave Buck, senior fellow for public health at the King's Fund, called this emergence "clearly worrying" and said governments have "talked the talk, but not sufficiently walked the walk" in addressing obesity rates. "This investigation shows the standard of the nonaccomplishment to take the indispensable enactment connected with tackling this obesity timebomb," he added. Buck told the BBC that changes in lifestyle and food environment mean it is "far easier to over-consume or devour in ways that adhd to our weight". "With things similar deliveries, it's precise casual and convenient present to click a fastener and you get a takeaway at your door, so we're making it much easier to have high fat, high brackish and high sweetener foods." Service‑sector or "white collar" jobs now constitute a larger share of the economy, while traditional manufacturing and other "blue collar" work such as manual labour have declined. This shift leaves more people in sedentary office jobs, spending more time sitting than moving. Food prices have also fallen since the 1990s, partly because of increased competition among large supermarkets alongside a growth in fast‑food outlets and home‑delivery services. Takeaways high in fat, salt and sugar are more readily available in areas of high deprivation, where residents face a greater risk of obesity. Less nutritious foods in supermarkets are cheaper than they were three decades ago, even as the country has endured several cost‑of‑living crises in recent years. ### What has the government tried to do about it? Obesity is a risk factor for numerous chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis and some cancers. Reports estimate that obesity and being overweight cost the UK economy about £126 billion per year, including £12 billion to the NHS – roughly 7% of its annual budget. Since 1992 – the year before data on obesity in England were first collected – 14 national obesity strategies have been published. Campaigners argue progress has been too slow and call for stronger intervention, a demand that has grown in recent years. Tony Blair's administration introduced a ban on junk‑food advertising during children's television programmes, although some advocates urged a wider restriction. Gordon Brown later launched a strategy aimed at reversing the "rising tide of obesity" after becoming prime minister in 2007. The Conservative government imposed a UK‑wide levy on high‑sugar soft drinks in