Analysis from the King's Fund indicates that England's adult obesity rate has doubled since 1993, reaching a record high of 30% in 2024. This compares to 15% of the adult population in 1993. The rise means there are now seven million more adults living with obesity than if rates had remained at 1993 levels.
The increase is particularly pronounced among 16-to-24 year-olds, with 18% in this age group classified as obese or severely obese in 2024, up from 6% in 1993. This accounts for one million young adults living with obesity in England, an increase of 700,000.
Dave Buck, senior fellow for public health at the King's Fund, described the rise as "clearly worrying" and stated that governments have not taken sufficient action to address the issue. Factors contributing to the increase include changes in eating habits, falling food prices, and a shift towards more sedentary "white collar" jobs.
Since 1992, 14 national obesity strategies have been published by successive governments. Recent interventions include a Labour government ban on junk food advertising before 21:00 on television and at any time online, introduced in January this year. Plans to crack down on unhealthy food sales are still awaiting implementation.
Weight loss drugs, such as GLP1s, are increasingly used, with Wegovy available on the NHS for adults with a BMI of at least 35 and a weight-related health condition. Mounjaro has been available from specialist NHS weight-loss clinics in England and Wales since March 2025. England's Chief Medical Officer, Prof Sir Chris Whitty, has stated that relying solely on medication for life would be a "societal failure" in addressing obesity.