science
Obesity Diagnoses Rise Nearly 20 Percent Among People in Their 30s in England
The BBC reported new obesity diagnoses for people in their 30s rose nearly 20 percent between 2019-20 and 2024-25. Rates for those in their 20s increased 16 percent over the same period. A study of 55 million NHS records showed the overall share of adults recorded as obese climbed from 26.2 percent to 30.3 percent.
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New obesity diagnoses rose nearly 20 percent among people in their 30s in England between 2019-20 and 2024-25, The BBC reported. Diagnoses for people in their 20s increased 16 percent over the same span. The most common ages for diagnosis remained the 40s and 50s.
The study, published in The Lancet and based on 55 million adult NHS patient records, found 24.1 new diagnoses per 1,000 people aged 30-39 in 2024-25, up from 20.3 five years earlier. Among those aged 20-29 the rate reached 20.3 per 1,000, compared with 17.5 in 2019-20. Rates fell among people aged 60-79.
Earlier onset was more common among non-white people, and areas with the highest deprivation recorded steeper increases. The proportion of adults recorded as obese rose from 26.2 percent to 30.3 percent overall. Lead researcher Robert Fletcher said adults in their 20s and 30s grew up during a boom in the unhealthy food market.
"They have been surrounded by unhealthy food in their formative years," he said. Fletcher added that the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis likely affected younger groups more, noting the stress of childcare, remote work and rising food prices. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the government is taking decisive action, including new restrictions on junk food advertising and targets on healthy food sales.
