Obesity cases rising fastest in young adults
Summary
New cases of obesity are rising fastest among people in their 20s and 30s in England, with rates increasing by about 16-20% between 2019-20 and 2024-25. Researchers link this to unhealthy food environments, the pandemic, and economic challenges, while obesity remains a risk factor for diseases like diabetes and heart disease.Key Facts
- New obesity diagnoses increased nearly 20% for people in their 30s and 16% for those in their 20s from 2019-20 to 2024-25.
- The rise in younger adults is faster than in older groups, though most diagnoses still occur in people in their 40s and 50s.
- Non-white groups and areas with higher poverty saw earlier and steeper increases in obesity.
- Researchers suggest unhealthy food availability, pandemic stress, and cost of living rises contributed to these trends.
- Healthy food tends to be more expensive than unhealthy options, making it harder for younger people to eat well.
- Digital influences like social media and food apps may affect younger adults’ eating habits.
- Data came from 55 million NHS patient records, excluding those already diagnosed as obese.
- Overall, obesity rates recorded rose from 26.2% to 30.3% over the study period.
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