The UK is now the most obese country in Western Europe, with obesity rates rising faster than in any other developed nation, including the US.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Health at a Glance report shows that 26.9% of the UK population are obese – measured by having a body mass index (BMI) of over 30.
‘One could weep over the figures, the result of successive governments who have, for the last 30 years, done next to nothing to tackle obesity,’ said Tam Fry, Chair of the National Obesity Forum.
The OECD ranked the UK as the sixth-worst country out of its 35 member states, after Mexico, the US, New Zealand, Finland and Australia.
With around 27% of the population classified as obese, and 36% overweight, the UK is now amongst the top few countries in the world for overweight people.
The report listed the UK as one of the countries with ‘historically high’ rates of obesity since the 1990s and that it was the country where obesity was rising the fastest – 92% since the 1990s, compared to 65% in the US.
‘Obesity means higher risk of chronic illnesses, particularly hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases,’ the report added.
In October, the World Obesity Forum estimated that, if left unchecked, obesity could cost the UK $31 billion a year by 2025 – up from the current $19 billion today.
The organisation did recognise some national campaigns to tackle obesity, such as the recent ban on ‘super-size’ chocolate bars in hospitals and the long-awaited sugar tax, but said that ‘more could be done’.
Tam Fry said: ‘Even today, we have only a pathetic attempt by Theresa May’s administration to get serious about reducing the numbers and avoiding an official estimate that more than 50% of the UK will be obese by 2050.
‘Ten years ago, a government department report stated that the nation was sleepwalking into obesity – but no minister, either then or since, has woken up to the fact.’
‘Most countries are facing rising levels of obesity, putting pressure on health and social care systems. While England has the worst rates of adult obesity in western Europe, our plans to tackle this are among the most ambitious,’ said Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England.
She added: ‘We’re working with industry to make food healthier, we’ve produced guidance for councils on planning healthier towns and we’re delivering campaigns encouraging people to choose healthier food and lead healthier lives. It’s taken many years for us to reach this point and change will not happen overnight.’