Short answer: about 3 in 10 adults in the UK are living with obesity. When adults in England were measured for the Health Survey for England in 2024, 29.9% were living with obesity (a BMI of 30 or more) and 65.6% were overweight or living with obesity. The figure was 31% in Scotland (2024) and 30% in Northern Ireland (2024/25). Among children in England, 10.5% in Reception and 22.2% in Year 6 were living with obesity in 2024/25.
This page gathers the latest official figures in one place, each with its source and the year it covers: the four UK nations, adults in England by age, sex, deprivation, region and every council area, children, and what obesity costs. Figures are as the sources publish them: to one decimal place where their tables give one. Last checked 24 October 2026.
Obesity across the UK
Each nation runs its own survey, so their methods differ: some measure people, some ask them. The table gives each nation's latest published figure for adults, with how it was collected, so read it as close to, not exactly, like for like.
| Nation | Living with obesity (BMI 30 or more) | Overweight or living with obesity (BMI 25 or more) | Year and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 29.9% | 65.6% | 2024, Health Survey for England. Measured, adults 16 and over. |
| Scotland | 31% | 66% | 2024, Scottish Health Survey. Measured or self-reported and adjusted, adults 16 and over. |
| Wales | 24.7% | 62% | April 2024 to March 2025, National Survey for Wales. Self-reported, adults 16 and over. |
| Northern Ireland | 30% | 67% | 2024/25, Health Survey Northern Ireland. Measured at face-to-face interviews, adults 16 and over. |
In Scotland, 35% of women and 27% of men were living with obesity in 2024, and 5% of adults had a BMI of 40 or more. In Northern Ireland, obesity rose from 23% of adults in 2010/11 to 30% in 2024/25. The Welsh survey is badged official statistics in development.
Adults in England, measured: the Health Survey for England
The Health Survey for England measures people's height and weight at home. In 2024, 29.9% of adults aged 16 and over were living with obesity, up from 14.9% in 1993, and 65.6% were overweight or living with obesity, up from 52.9%. 3.4% had severe obesity, a BMI of 40 or more. Obesity was similar in women (30.6%) and men (29.2%), but men were more likely to be overweight or living with obesity (69.5%, against 61.8% of women).
| Age | Living with obesity | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| 16 to 24 | 17.9% | 37.7% |
| 25 to 34 | 26.2% | 61.3% |
| 35 to 44 | 30.3% | 67.5% |
| 45 to 54 | 33.6% | 70.4% |
| 55 to 64 | 35.6% | 72.2% |
| 65 to 74 | 34.5% | 74.1% |
| 75 and over | 28.3% | 72.4% |
England, 2024, measured. Source: NHS England, Health Survey for England 2024, tables 3 and 4 (published 27 January 2026).
How has adult obesity in England changed?
For year-by-year and local figures, England also has the Active Lives Adult Survey, which asks people their height and weight; its figures come out somewhat lower than the measured ones. In it, the share of adults living with obesity rose from 22.6% in 2015/16 to 26.6% in 2024/25. The share overweight or living with obesity rose from 61.2% to 64.6%.
| Year (November to November) | Living with obesity (BMI 30 or more) | Overweight or living with obesity (BMI 25 or more) |
|---|---|---|
| 2015/16 | 22.6% | 61.2% |
| 2016/17 | 23.1% | 61.3% |
| 2017/18 | 23.1% | 61.9% |
| 2018/19 | 23.5% | 62.0% |
| 2019/20 | 24.4% | 62.6% |
| 2020/21 | 25.2% | 63.3% |
| 2021/22 | 25.9% | 63.8% |
| 2022/23 | 26.2% | 64.0% |
| 2023/24 | 26.5% | 64.5% |
| 2024/25 | 26.6% | 64.6% |
Adults aged 18 and over, age-standardised. Source: OHID Obesity Profile, from Sport England's Active Lives Adult Survey. The survey asks people their height and weight; OHID adjusts the answers with equations from the Health Survey for England, which compares reported with measured height and weight. The adjustment narrows the gap between the two but does not remove it.
Obesity by age and sex in England
In 2024/25, 27.0% of women and 26.3% of men were living with obesity. Men were more likely to be overweight or living with obesity (69.9%, against 59.4% of women). Obesity was most common at 55 to 64 (33.0%) and least common at 18 to 24 (12.9%).
| Age | Living with obesity | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| 18 to 24 | 12.9% | 38.6% |
| 25 to 34 | 23.8% | 57.5% |
| 35 to 44 | 26.9% | 65.3% |
| 45 to 54 | 29.5% | 69.4% |
| 55 to 64 | 33.0% | 73.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 30.5% | 72.1% |
| 75 to 84 | 27.4% | 71.3% |
| 85+ | 21.0% | 65.0% |
England, 2024/25. The figures for men and women are age-standardised; the age groups are not. Source: OHID Obesity Profile, Active Lives Adult Survey.
Obesity and deprivation
Adults in England's most deprived neighbourhoods were almost twice as likely to be living with obesity as those in the least deprived: 37.6% in the most deprived tenth of areas against 20.0% in the least deprived tenth (2024/25).
| Neighbourhood deprivation (1 = most deprived tenth) | Living with obesity | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37.6% | 71.0% |
| 2 | 33.8% | 69.6% |
| 3 | 29.7% | 67.0% |
| 4 | 28.7% | 66.5% |
| 5 | 27.6% | 65.2% |
| 6 | 25.7% | 63.1% |
| 7 | 24.0% | 63.2% |
| 8 | 24.8% | 63.1% |
| 9 | 22.7% | 62.0% |
| 10 | 20.0% | 60.6% |
Deprivation tenths are of small neighbourhoods (2011 Lower Super Output Areas) by the Index of Multiple Deprivation, England, 2024/25. Source: OHID Obesity Profile, Active Lives Adult Survey.
Obesity by region of England
North East had the highest share of adults living with obesity in 2024/25 (33.1%) and London the lowest (20.4%).
| Region | Living with obesity | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| North East | 33.1% | 70.3% |
| East Midlands | 29.5% | 67.5% |
| West Midlands | 29.2% | 67.6% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 29.1% | 68.2% |
| North West | 28.6% | 67.0% |
| East of England | 27.7% | 65.2% |
| South West | 26.7% | 64.7% |
| South East | 24.4% | 63.0% |
| London | 20.4% | 57.4% |
Adults 18 and over, age-standardised, 2024/25. Source: OHID Obesity Profile, Active Lives Adult Survey.
Obesity by council area in England
Of England's 296 council areas, Sunderland had the highest estimated share of adults living with obesity in 2024/25 (42.6%) and Camden the lowest (10.4%). Each council figure comes from a survey sample, of a few hundred adults in most areas, so it carries a margin of error: the table gives the range the true figure is 95% likely to sit in. Sunderland's, for example, is 38.7% to 46.7%. Two areas a few points apart may not really differ.
The 10 council areas with the highest estimates
| Council area | Region | Living with obesity (95% range) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | North East | 42.6% (38.7% to 46.7%) |
| Gosport | South East | 40.8% (35.4% to 46.3%) |
| Boston | East Midlands | 38.1% (34.5% to 41.6%) |
| South Tyneside | North East | 37.8% (34.4% to 41.4%) |
| Wyre | North West | 37.5% (32.3% to 42.7%) |
| Sandwell | West Midlands | 37.2% (34.0% to 40.5%) |
| Peterborough | East of England | 37.1% (33.6% to 40.6%) |
| Hinckley and Bosworth | East Midlands | 36.7% (31.4% to 42.1%) |
| Wirral | North West | 36.7% (33.2% to 40.4%) |
| Tamworth | West Midlands | 36.7% (31.6% to 41.9%) |
The 10 council areas with the lowest estimates
| Council area | Region | Living with obesity (95% range) |
|---|---|---|
| Camden | London | 10.4% (7.3% to 13.9%) |
| Richmond upon Thames | London | 10.5% (7.2% to 14.1%) |
| Kensington and Chelsea | London | 12.2% (9.2% to 15.7%) |
| Harrow | London | 13.3% (9.6% to 17.3%) |
| Woking | South East | 14.1% (10.6% to 18.1%) |
| Cambridge | East of England | 14.3% (10.7% to 18.1%) |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | London | 15.2% (11.4% to 19.1%) |
| Merton | London | 15.4% (11.6% to 19.5%) |
| City of London | London | 15.4% (11.2% to 19.7%) |
| East Hampshire | South East | 16.2% (12.3% to 20.3%) |
Every council area, by region
Open a region to see each council area in it, in alphabetical order.
East Midlands (35 council areas)
| Council area | Living with obesity (95% range) | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| Amber Valley | 29.0% (24.6% to 33.7%) | 68.3% |
| Ashfield | 28.2% (23.3% to 33.2%) | 71.1% |
| Bassetlaw | 32.2% (27.2% to 37.3%) | 71.8% |
| Blaby | 32.6% (27.6% to 37.9%) | 71.5% |
| Bolsover | 33.5% (30.1% to 37.1%) | 72.1% |
| Boston | 38.1% (34.5% to 41.6%) | 70.9% |
| Broxtowe | 22.4% (18.0% to 27.1%) | 65.3% |
| Charnwood | 29.0% (24.0% to 33.9%) | 67.9% |
| Chesterfield | 26.7% (21.8% to 31.6%) | 63.7% |
| Derby | 28.4% (25.1% to 31.7%) | 70.9% |
| Derbyshire Dales | 25.9% (21.4% to 30.8%) | 67.0% |
| East Lindsey | 34.1% (30.7% to 37.5%) | 72.5% |
| Erewash | 29.4% (24.8% to 34.1%) | 65.8% |
| Gedling | 27.8% (23.1% to 32.6%) | 67.8% |
| Harborough | 29.9% (25.3% to 34.8%) | 66.6% |
| High Peak | 19.1% (14.8% to 23.5%) | 55.7% |
| Hinckley and Bosworth | 36.7% (31.4% to 42.1%) | 69.3% |
| Leicester | 28.1% (25.4% to 31.0%) | 61.8% |
| Lincoln | 30.7% (25.7% to 35.6%) | 66.1% |
| Mansfield | 31.4% (28.2% to 35.0%) | 69.6% |
| Melton | 22.1% (17.8% to 26.7%) | 65.0% |
| Newark and Sherwood | 32.2% (27.2% to 37.3%) | 72.5% |
| North East Derbyshire | 27.8% (23.2% to 32.6%) | 68.3% |
| North Kesteven | 27.5% (22.5% to 32.4%) | 62.1% |
| North Northamptonshire | 34.7% (31.2% to 38.3%) | 73.6% |
| North West Leicestershire | 25.3% (20.9% to 30.1%) | 63.2% |
| Nottingham | 35.3% (31.6% to 39.0%) | 71.8% |
| Oadby and Wigston | 26.6% (21.7% to 31.6%) | 66.2% |
| Rushcliffe | 19.2% (15.0% to 23.3%) | 60.1% |
| Rutland | 27.2% (22.7% to 32.1%) | 65.0% |
| South Derbyshire | 31.7% (26.8% to 36.9%) | 68.0% |
| South Holland | 35.1% (31.6% to 38.7%) | 70.5% |
| South Kesteven | 27.9% (23.1% to 32.6%) | 71.4% |
| West Lindsey | 33.1% (28.1% to 38.2%) | 74.7% |
| West Northamptonshire | 27.6% (24.4% to 30.9%) | 63.0% |
East of England (45 council areas)
| Council area | Living with obesity (95% range) | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| Babergh | 23.7% (19.0% to 28.2%) | 57.1% |
| Basildon | 36.3% (31.3% to 41.6%) | 74.6% |
| Bedford | 36.5% (31.1% to 41.8%) | 72.9% |
| Braintree | 28.6% (23.8% to 33.5%) | 75.3% |
| Breckland | 34.3% (29.2% to 39.4%) | 68.5% |
| Brentwood | 20.6% (16.6% to 25.0%) | 59.5% |
| Broadland | 20.9% (16.8% to 25.3%) | 60.8% |
| Broxbourne | 25.6% (20.9% to 30.2%) | 64.8% |
| Cambridge | 14.3% (10.7% to 18.1%) | 46.7% |
| Castle Point | 33.3% (29.8% to 36.8%) | 69.6% |
| Central Bedfordshire | 24.5% (21.2% to 27.8%) | 65.2% |
| Chelmsford | 22.2% (17.9% to 26.9%) | 60.4% |
| Colchester | 27.4% (22.5% to 32.2%) | 64.0% |
| Dacorum | 26.7% (21.5% to 31.9%) | 60.7% |
| East Cambridgeshire | 23.8% (19.2% to 28.4%) | 52.7% |
| East Hertfordshire | 25.7% (21.2% to 30.6%) | 62.2% |
| East Suffolk | 26.2% (21.4% to 31.1%) | 70.2% |
| Epping Forest | 18.5% (14.3% to 22.9%) | 61.4% |
| Fenland | 31.0% (27.5% to 34.4%) | 68.1% |
| Great Yarmouth | 35.9% (32.3% to 39.5%) | 69.2% |
| Harlow | 33.0% (29.5% to 36.5%) | 70.4% |
| Hertsmere | 24.8% (20.4% to 29.8%) | 61.2% |
| Huntingdonshire | 24.7% (19.8% to 29.6%) | 63.4% |
| Ipswich | 32.7% (28.9% to 36.6%) | 67.8% |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk | 32.9% (29.4% to 36.2%) | 70.7% |
| Luton | 32.5% (28.8% to 36.3%) | 69.2% |
| Maldon | 27.1% (22.7% to 31.7%) | 64.4% |
| Mid Suffolk | 20.0% (15.9% to 24.6%) | 62.6% |
| North Hertfordshire | 26.4% (22.0% to 31.2%) | 66.1% |
| North Norfolk | 28.0% (23.4% to 32.8%) | 62.7% |
| Norwich | 26.8% (22.0% to 31.7%) | 54.3% |
| Peterborough | 37.1% (33.6% to 40.6%) | 73.9% |
| Rochford | 32.5% (27.3% to 37.7%) | 71.0% |
| South Cambridgeshire | 20.3% (16.3% to 24.4%) | 55.0% |
| South Norfolk | 30.7% (25.8% to 35.6%) | 71.2% |
| Southend-on-Sea | 27.1% (22.2% to 32.1%) | 58.2% |
| St Albans | 22.5% (18.4% to 27.0%) | 63.2% |
| Stevenage | 31.0% (26.2% to 35.7%) | 70.1% |
| Tendring | 36.4% (32.8% to 39.8%) | 70.7% |
| Three Rivers | 24.2% (19.7% to 28.6%) | 57.0% |
| Thurrock | 31.8% (27.8% to 35.9%) | 71.3% |
| Uttlesford | 21.1% (16.9% to 25.8%) | 62.6% |
| Watford | 22.5% (17.9% to 27.4%) | 61.9% |
| Welwyn Hatfield | 20.6% (16.2% to 25.1%) | 60.2% |
| West Suffolk | 31.4% (26.5% to 36.4%) | 65.7% |
London (33 council areas)
| Council area | Living with obesity (95% range) | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| Barking and Dagenham | 35.0% (31.2% to 38.9%) | 71.7% |
| Barnet | 16.3% (13.5% to 19.2%) | 53.3% |
| Bexley | 33.0% (27.8% to 38.1%) | 70.5% |
| Brent | 22.8% (20.1% to 25.6%) | 58.2% |
| Bromley | 22.8% (19.7% to 26.0%) | 60.0% |
| Camden | 10.4% (7.3% to 13.9%) | 48.9% |
| City of London | 15.4% (11.2% to 19.7%) | 51.1% |
| Croydon | 20.5% (17.6% to 23.4%) | 61.4% |
| Ealing | 18.0% (15.3% to 21.0%) | 59.0% |
| Enfield | 25.3% (22.5% to 28.1%) | 63.0% |
| Greenwich | 24.0% (21.2% to 26.8%) | 59.2% |
| Hackney | 26.2% (21.5% to 31.2%) | 56.1% |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 15.2% (11.4% to 19.1%) | 45.6% |
| Haringey | 22.2% (18.1% to 26.6%) | 56.0% |
| Harrow | 13.3% (9.6% to 17.3%) | 53.6% |
| Havering | 23.9% (19.4% to 28.7%) | 61.9% |
| Hillingdon | 23.3% (20.0% to 26.7%) | 62.7% |
| Hounslow | 23.4% (19.8% to 27.1%) | 61.0% |
| Islington | 16.9% (12.9% to 21.0%) | 49.8% |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 12.2% (9.2% to 15.7%) | 40.0% |
| Kingston upon Thames | 16.9% (13.0% to 20.8%) | 55.1% |
| Lambeth | 17.1% (14.3% to 20.1%) | 51.4% |
| Lewisham | 24.6% (21.3% to 27.9%) | 58.6% |
| Merton | 15.4% (11.6% to 19.5%) | 60.2% |
| Newham | 25.4% (22.6% to 28.2%) | 61.9% |
| Redbridge | 19.1% (15.9% to 22.3%) | 60.8% |
| Richmond upon Thames | 10.5% (7.2% to 14.1%) | 43.1% |
| Southwark | 16.3% (13.4% to 19.4%) | 52.1% |
| Sutton | 30.2% (25.0% to 35.3%) | 65.6% |
| Tower Hamlets | 16.6% (14.2% to 18.9%) | 55.6% |
| Waltham Forest | 21.6% (18.7% to 24.6%) | 59.4% |
| Wandsworth | 16.7% (14.0% to 19.6%) | 51.3% |
| Westminster | 20.3% (16.5% to 24.5%) | 56.2% |
North East (12 council areas)
| Council area | Living with obesity (95% range) | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| County Durham | 32.1% (29.6% to 34.7%) | 69.3% |
| Darlington | 32.1% (27.0% to 37.3%) | 67.0% |
| Gateshead | 33.0% (29.6% to 36.5%) | 70.5% |
| Hartlepool | 35.8% (32.3% to 39.2%) | 72.8% |
| Middlesbrough | 34.2% (30.7% to 37.8%) | 69.7% |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 27.7% (24.1% to 31.2%) | 64.8% |
| North Tyneside | 26.6% (22.0% to 31.3%) | 61.1% |
| Northumberland | 33.4% (29.9% to 37.0%) | 73.3% |
| Redcar and Cleveland | 35.5% (32.1% to 39.0%) | 67.4% |
| South Tyneside | 37.8% (34.4% to 41.4%) | 74.4% |
| Stockton-on-Tees | 32.2% (28.3% to 36.2%) | 73.5% |
| Sunderland | 42.6% (38.7% to 46.7%) | 77.0% |
North West (35 council areas)
| Council area | Living with obesity (95% range) | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| Blackburn with Darwen | 30.0% (26.6% to 33.6%) | 67.0% |
| Blackpool | 32.2% (28.9% to 35.8%) | 67.8% |
| Bolton | 28.9% (26.0% to 31.8%) | 67.9% |
| Burnley | 34.8% (31.2% to 38.3%) | 72.1% |
| Bury | 34.1% (28.8% to 39.0%) | 65.4% |
| Cheshire East | 23.9% (20.9% to 26.9%) | 61.1% |
| Cheshire West and Chester | 23.8% (20.8% to 26.9%) | 66.9% |
| Chorley | 24.6% (19.9% to 29.4%) | 68.1% |
| Cumberland | 29.1% (25.5% to 32.8%) | 67.4% |
| Fylde | 26.0% (21.2% to 31.0%) | 67.4% |
| Halton | 34.5% (31.1% to 37.9%) | 73.1% |
| Hyndburn | 33.3% (29.9% to 36.7%) | 69.1% |
| Knowsley | 35.8% (32.3% to 39.3%) | 74.6% |
| Lancaster | 25.6% (21.1% to 30.3%) | 64.0% |
| Liverpool | 31.7% (28.5% to 34.9%) | 67.9% |
| Manchester | 27.0% (24.5% to 29.6%) | 60.9% |
| Oldham | 28.0% (24.5% to 31.4%) | 68.1% |
| Pendle | 29.6% (26.2% to 33.1%) | 70.2% |
| Preston | 29.7% (24.5% to 35.0%) | 67.1% |
| Ribble Valley | 26.1% (21.5% to 30.8%) | 63.3% |
| Rochdale | 28.7% (25.3% to 32.1%) | 68.1% |
| Rossendale | 26.6% (21.8% to 31.6%) | 66.5% |
| Salford | 26.4% (22.7% to 30.2%) | 67.9% |
| Sefton | 30.8% (27.1% to 34.7%) | 70.3% |
| South Ribble | 29.9% (25.2% to 34.7%) | 69.6% |
| St. Helens | 31.3% (27.9% to 34.6%) | 68.6% |
| Stockport | 23.0% (19.8% to 26.1%) | 61.8% |
| Tameside | 32.7% (29.1% to 36.2%) | 68.8% |
| Trafford | 23.5% (18.9% to 27.9%) | 63.2% |
| Warrington | 23.7% (19.3% to 28.4%) | 61.4% |
| West Lancashire | 27.1% (22.3% to 31.9%) | 70.7% |
| Westmorland and Furness | 23.7% (19.3% to 28.0%) | 58.6% |
| Wigan | 34.0% (30.4% to 37.7%) | 73.7% |
| Wirral | 36.7% (33.2% to 40.4%) | 71.8% |
| Wyre | 37.5% (32.3% to 42.7%) | 73.6% |
South East (64 council areas)
| Council area | Living with obesity (95% range) | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| Adur | 24.9% (20.3% to 29.8%) | 61.5% |
| Arun | 36.5% (31.5% to 41.7%) | 69.7% |
| Ashford | 24.2% (19.5% to 28.8%) | 60.8% |
| Basingstoke and Deane | 26.3% (21.8% to 31.1%) | 64.7% |
| Bracknell Forest | 25.1% (20.6% to 29.9%) | 67.3% |
| Brighton and Hove | 18.6% (15.5% to 21.8%) | 55.2% |
| Buckinghamshire UA | 22.4% (19.7% to 25.1%) | 63.1% |
| Canterbury | 27.2% (22.4% to 31.8%) | 61.4% |
| Cherwell | 21.4% (17.3% to 25.8%) | 56.9% |
| Chichester | 18.5% (14.4% to 22.6%) | 57.9% |
| Crawley | 30.4% (25.7% to 35.4%) | 70.2% |
| Dartford | 29.7% (24.8% to 34.9%) | 68.5% |
| Dover | 29.2% (24.3% to 34.3%) | 68.7% |
| East Hampshire | 16.2% (12.3% to 20.3%) | 53.7% |
| Eastbourne | 29.5% (24.6% to 34.3%) | 63.9% |
| Eastleigh | 27.3% (22.7% to 32.3%) | 66.8% |
| Elmbridge | 16.3% (12.5% to 20.3%) | 55.6% |
| Epsom and Ewell | 17.3% (13.3% to 21.6%) | 55.1% |
| Fareham | 22.5% (18.2% to 27.1%) | 65.3% |
| Folkestone & Hythe | 33.8% (28.7% to 39.0%) | 61.4% |
| Gosport | 40.8% (35.4% to 46.3%) | 72.4% |
| Gravesham | 28.6% (24.0% to 33.5%) | 69.5% |
| Guildford | 17.9% (13.9% to 22.1%) | 55.5% |
| Hart | 20.5% (16.6% to 24.6%) | 59.7% |
| Hastings | 30.0% (26.6% to 33.4%) | 63.6% |
| Havant | 28.0% (24.9% to 31.4%) | 62.9% |
| Horsham | 25.7% (21.5% to 30.2%) | 61.6% |
| Isle of Wight | 21.9% (17.7% to 26.5%) | 58.9% |
| Lewes | 28.7% (24.1% to 33.3%) | 62.6% |
| Maidstone | 28.8% (23.8% to 34.0%) | 64.4% |
| Medway | 26.7% (23.1% to 30.4%) | 68.0% |
| Mid Sussex | 20.4% (16.1% to 24.8%) | 60.2% |
| Milton Keynes | 28.9% (25.3% to 32.6%) | 68.0% |
| Mole Valley | 24.6% (20.3% to 29.1%) | 63.5% |
| New Forest | 21.0% (16.7% to 25.5%) | 62.8% |
| Oxford | 17.7% (13.7% to 21.7%) | 53.7% |
| Portsmouth | 32.3% (27.4% to 37.5%) | 65.5% |
| Reading | 25.2% (20.4% to 30.3%) | 62.8% |
| Reigate and Banstead | 18.7% (14.9% to 23.0%) | 60.6% |
| Rother | 22.6% (18.3% to 27.2%) | 55.9% |
| Runnymede | 21.4% (17.2% to 25.9%) | 58.4% |
| Rushmoor | 24.5% (20.1% to 29.2%) | 70.8% |
| Sevenoaks | 24.0% (19.5% to 28.8%) | 61.8% |
| Slough | 30.0% (26.6% to 33.5%) | 65.3% |
| South Oxfordshire | 20.0% (15.9% to 24.4%) | 63.6% |
| Southampton | 28.1% (24.5% to 31.9%) | 65.8% |
| Spelthorne | 24.6% (20.2% to 29.4%) | 68.3% |
| Surrey Heath | 23.7% (19.2% to 28.4%) | 62.7% |
| Swale | 34.5% (31.0% to 38.1%) | 71.0% |
| Tandridge | 25.1% (20.2% to 29.8%) | 66.1% |
| Test Valley | 24.4% (19.8% to 29.0%) | 65.3% |
| Thanet | 34.8% (30.9% to 38.8%) | 73.3% |
| Tonbridge and Malling | 27.3% (22.5% to 32.3%) | 72.4% |
| Tunbridge Wells | 22.2% (17.7% to 26.9%) | 61.9% |
| Vale of White Horse | 21.0% (16.8% to 25.5%) | 62.4% |
| Waverley | 19.7% (15.7% to 23.8%) | 51.5% |
| Wealden | 23.5% (19.2% to 28.1%) | 64.8% |
| West Berkshire | 19.4% (15.5% to 23.9%) | 58.7% |
| West Oxfordshire | 28.0% (23.3% to 32.9%) | 63.5% |
| Winchester | 19.4% (15.2% to 23.7%) | 58.2% |
| Windsor and Maidenhead | 23.1% (18.5% to 27.8%) | 59.3% |
| Woking | 14.1% (10.6% to 18.1%) | 56.7% |
| Wokingham | 18.5% (14.3% to 23.0%) | 57.5% |
| Worthing | 19.0% (14.7% to 23.1%) | 68.8% |
South West (27 council areas)
| Council area | Living with obesity (95% range) | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| Bath and North East Somerset | 17.2% (13.2% to 21.5%) | 51.9% |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 27.3% (24.3% to 30.5%) | 64.8% |
| Bristol | 19.2% (16.6% to 21.8%) | 59.4% |
| Cheltenham | 24.6% (20.1% to 29.1%) | 65.7% |
| Cornwall | 27.7% (24.9% to 30.7%) | 69.0% |
| Cotswold | 18.0% (14.1% to 22.0%) | 58.0% |
| Dorset | 28.2% (25.0% to 31.4%) | 66.3% |
| East Devon | 25.0% (20.4% to 29.5%) | 58.3% |
| Exeter | 21.7% (18.3% to 25.0%) | 62.1% |
| Forest of Dean | 29.2% (24.4% to 34.3%) | 72.3% |
| Gloucester | 35.0% (31.0% to 39.1%) | 70.1% |
| Isles of Scilly | 23.0% (16.5% to 29.7%) | 60.3% |
| Mid Devon | 32.6% (27.5% to 37.6%) | 64.8% |
| North Devon | 22.0% (17.7% to 26.3%) | 63.4% |
| North Somerset | 24.0% (19.6% to 28.6%) | 57.2% |
| Plymouth | 30.6% (26.7% to 34.4%) | 70.3% |
| Somerset UA | 33.2% (30.3% to 36.2%) | 68.4% |
| South Gloucestershire | 26.3% (22.8% to 29.8%) | 67.2% |
| South Hams | 25.1% (20.8% to 29.6%) | 56.8% |
| Stroud | 27.5% (22.8% to 32.3%) | 64.1% |
| Swindon | 32.9% (29.2% to 36.7%) | 68.0% |
| Teignbridge | 21.4% (17.3% to 25.6%) | 62.3% |
| Tewkesbury | 25.9% (21.5% to 30.4%) | 65.2% |
| Torbay | 27.9% (23.3% to 32.7%) | 67.5% |
| Torridge | 27.0% (22.5% to 31.7%) | 66.1% |
| West Devon | 23.2% (18.9% to 27.6%) | 56.9% |
| Wiltshire | 28.7% (25.8% to 31.6%) | 64.3% |
West Midlands (30 council areas)
| Council area | Living with obesity (95% range) | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 27.9% (25.6% to 30.1%) | 67.6% |
| Bromsgrove | 21.2% (16.9% to 25.7%) | 61.9% |
| Cannock Chase | 36.0% (30.9% to 41.2%) | 78.5% |
| Coventry | 28.6% (25.7% to 31.5%) | 66.8% |
| Dudley | 36.6% (32.8% to 40.4%) | 72.2% |
| East Staffordshire | 27.8% (23.1% to 32.7%) | 69.6% |
| Herefordshire | 30.9% (26.0% to 36.0%) | 64.6% |
| Lichfield | 32.0% (27.1% to 37.2%) | 65.2% |
| Malvern Hills | 26.4% (21.9% to 31.0%) | 58.5% |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | 30.4% (25.1% to 35.7%) | 65.1% |
| North Warwickshire | 34.0% (28.8% to 39.3%) | 67.0% |
| Nuneaton and Bedworth | 27.7% (22.6% to 32.9%) | 71.9% |
| Redditch | 26.9% (22.2% to 31.6%) | 67.7% |
| Rugby | 26.0% (21.3% to 31.1%) | 74.3% |
| Sandwell | 37.2% (34.0% to 40.5%) | 75.1% |
| Shropshire | 30.1% (26.6% to 33.8%) | 64.0% |
| Solihull | 17.3% (13.5% to 21.4%) | 61.1% |
| South Staffordshire | 32.1% (27.2% to 37.1%) | 73.9% |
| Stafford | 28.3% (23.8% to 33.0%) | 64.9% |
| Staffordshire Moorlands | 29.3% (24.6% to 34.3%) | 68.2% |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 34.1% (30.6% to 37.7%) | 73.7% |
| Stratford-on-Avon | 19.3% (15.3% to 23.8%) | 61.0% |
| Tamworth | 36.7% (31.6% to 41.9%) | 68.0% |
| Telford and Wrekin | 33.4% (30.0% to 37.0%) | 70.3% |
| Walsall | 34.8% (31.7% to 38.0%) | 69.6% |
| Warwick | 19.2% (15.1% to 23.5%) | 58.8% |
| Wolverhampton | 30.1% (26.5% to 33.6%) | 65.3% |
| Worcester | 24.3% (19.5% to 28.9%) | 62.0% |
| Wychavon | 25.3% (21.0% to 30.0%) | 68.1% |
| Wyre Forest | 27.4% (22.4% to 32.4%) | 56.0% |
Yorkshire and the Humber (15 council areas)
| Council area | Living with obesity (95% range) | Overweight or living with obesity |
|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 35.0% (31.7% to 38.4%) | 74.4% |
| Bradford | 26.6% (24.1% to 29.1%) | 64.5% |
| Calderdale | 26.2% (23.0% to 29.5%) | 70.4% |
| Doncaster | 36.1% (33.2% to 39.1%) | 71.5% |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | 29.8% (26.6% to 33.1%) | 68.3% |
| Kingston upon Hull | 34.2% (30.6% to 37.9%) | 69.6% |
| Kirklees | 32.0% (28.6% to 35.4%) | 68.1% |
| Leeds | 26.6% (24.0% to 29.2%) | 65.0% |
| North East Lincolnshire | 29.9% (26.6% to 33.2%) | 70.2% |
| North Lincolnshire | 34.4% (30.9% to 38.0%) | 74.2% |
| North Yorkshire UA | 23.7% (21.2% to 26.2%) | 66.2% |
| Rotherham | 32.9% (29.5% to 36.4%) | 72.5% |
| Sheffield | 27.6% (24.6% to 30.5%) | 67.4% |
| Wakefield | 36.2% (33.3% to 39.1%) | 73.2% |
| York | 18.5% (14.4% to 22.4%) | 60.7% |
Lower-tier council areas (districts and unitary authorities, boundaries from April 2023), adults 18 and over, age-standardised, 2024/25. Source: OHID Obesity Profile, Active Lives Adult Survey.
Children living with obesity
In England, children in state-funded schools are weighed and measured in Reception (aged 4 to 5) and Year 6 (aged 10 to 11). In 2024/25, 10.5% of Reception children and 22.2% of Year 6 children were living with obesity, and 2.9% and 5.6% with severe obesity. Children in the most deprived areas were more than twice as likely to be living with obesity as those in the least deprived.
| England, 2024/25 | Reception (aged 4 to 5) | Year 6 (aged 10 to 11) |
|---|---|---|
| Living with obesity | 10.5% | 22.2% |
| Living with severe obesity | 2.9% | 5.6% |
| Living with obesity, most deprived tenth of areas | 14.0% | 29.3% |
| Living with obesity, least deprived tenth of areas | 6.9% | 13.5% |
1,145,893 children measured. Source: OHID, National Child Measurement Programme, England, 2024/25 school year (published 4 November 2025). New figures are due on 3 November 2026. Children's categories compare each child with others of the same age and sex, so they are not the adult BMI bands.
In Wales, 12.8% of children aged 4 to 5 were living with obesity in 2024/25, the highest figure since the Child Measurement Programme for Wales began, and 27.3% were overweight or living with obesity (Public Health Wales, published 12 May 2026).
What does obesity cost the UK?
A government announcement of 27 June 2026 put the cost of obesity at up to £107 billion a year to UK society, including more than £9 billion a year for the NHS, citing estimates by Nesta and Frontier Economics (2025).
How many people use weight-loss medicines?
In a University College London survey of adults in Great Britain in January to March 2025, 2.9%, about 1.6 million adults, said they had used one of the newer weight-loss injections or tablets to lose weight in the past year, and about 910,000 had used one only for weight loss. The figures are what people reported, scaled up to the adult population (Jackson and others, BMC Medicine, January 2026).
How these figures are measured
For adults, obesity means a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more, and overweight 25 to 29.9, the categories NICE uses (guideline NG246). BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared; you can work out your own with our BMI calculator, which sends and stores nothing. For children, BMI is compared with children of the same age and sex, so their categories are not the adult ones.
Some of the figures here come from surveys that measure people's height and weight (the Health Survey for England, Northern Ireland's survey and the child measurement programmes), and some from surveys that ask people to report them (the Active Lives survey and the National Survey for Wales). Self-reported figures tend to come out lower, so numbers from different sources are not directly comparable. Each table names its source and year.
Using these figures
You are welcome to quote or reuse anything on this page. The figures are published by UK public bodies and republished here under the Open Government Licence v3.0: please credit the original source named under each table. If this page saved you time, a link to https://withsolira.com/blog/uk-obesity-statistics is appreciated. We update it when new figures are published.