Is the prevalence of excess weight equal across society?

Living with obesity affects all population groups in England but is higher for adults aged between 55 to 74 years, people living in more deprived areas and in some Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups, compared with the general population (1). There are also geographical variations at a regional and local authority level (2).

Inequalities in the prevalence of excess weight in children

Prevalence of excess weight varies across England. Children living in the most deprived areas of England are over twice as likely to be living with obesity compared to those in the least deprived areas (3).

Findings from the 2023/24 National Child Measurement Programme shows that the proportion of children living with obesity in reception year (age 4 to 5 years) was 12.9% in the most deprived areas compared to 6.0% in the least deprived areas. Of children in year 6 (age 10 to 11 years), 29.2% were living with obesity in the most deprived areas compared with 13.0% of children in the least deprived areas.

Of children in year 6 (age 10 to 11 years), 29.2% were living with obesity in the most deprived areas compared with 13.0% of children in the least deprived areas.

The prevalence of excess weight is highest for Black children in both reception and year 6, compared with all other ethnic groups.

The difference in obesity prevalence is much larger between year 6 children (age 10 to 11 years) from the most and least deprived areas, compared to the difference for children in reception year.

The proportion of children who are living with obesity varies by region. Variation in excess weight prevalence between local authorities can be examined using the Obesity Profile (2) which provides data at a ward level.

Adult excess weight prevalence and inequalities

A higher prevalence of excess weight is also seen in some Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority groups and, for people from these ethnic groups, the health risks of obesity arise at a lower body mass index compared to the general population (5), (6). Body Mass Index is an estimate of body mass, calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in metres.

The proportion of adults who are living with overweight or obesity varies by region. For example in 2019, the highest levels of overweight and obesity were in the North East, West Midlands and North West Region. The lowest levels of obesity were in London and South East and West regions (2).