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| health information | health news

Obesity predicted in half of all adults

18 October 2007

Key facts

Obesity means being overweight to an extent that can harm your health. It's defined as a body mass index (BMI) of over 30.
To work out your BMI, divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres, and then divide the figure you get by your height in metres again. Or use our BMI calculator.
The main cause of obesity is taking in excess calories and not doing enough physical activity to burn them off.
If you are obese or morbidly obese, you are more at risk of having health problems such as heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and some types of cancer.
The best way to stay at a healthy weight is to eat a healthy, balanced diet and stay physically active - the Government recommend 30 minutes of moderate activity (enough to make you feel slightly out of breath), at least five times a week.

Nearly half the UK population could be obese by 2050, according to a government report published this week.

Almost 250 experts and scientists were involved in the two-year study to identify the causes of obesity and predict future trends. The findings were published by Foresight, which is based in the Government Office for Science.

The report suggests that if current trends continue, by 2050 about sixty percent of men, half of women and a quarter of children in the UK will be obese. This could cost the UK economy around �45 billion a year.

Dr Colin Waine, Chair of the National Obesity Forum, said that the report provides further evidence that obesity is on the rise. He commented: "UK obesity levels have reached epidemic proportions: currently 24.5 percent of women and 24 percent of men in the UK are obese." Dr Waine believes this could lead to an "epidemic" of type 2 diabetes, a condition linked to obesity.

The authors of the Foresight report noted that obesity is a complex issue and there is no single, easy solution. They suggested that people change their behaviour, such as their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to combat obesity. In the long term, they believe wide-ranging measures need to be taken, including changes in food production, transport links and town planning, to encourage people to eat healthily and stay active.

Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, said: "There is no single solution to tackle obesity and it cannot be tackled by Government action alone. We will only succeed if the problem is recognised, owned and addressed at every level and every part of society."

The Department of Health is now undertaking further research, and will publish a follow-up report in one year's time.