More than two-thirds of men are now overweight or obese, with middle-aged men being especially susceptible to weight gain.
Yesterday’s release of a new public health survey for 2021 graphically demonstrates England’s obesity crisis.
In 1993, when records began, only 13 percent of males were obese; today, 25 percent are obese.
The percentage of males who are either overweight or obese has increased from 58% in 1993 to 69% now, according to study statistics.
Between 1993 and 2001, there was a substantial increase in the prevalence of obesity, but the incidence has generally increased gradually since then (file image)
Due to Covid, this is the first year when people’s weight and height were reported over the phone instead of being measured in their homes by an interviewer. Consequently, the comparisons must be viewed with caution.
However, the numbers are comparable to those of recent years.
73% of both the 65-to-74-year-old senior population and the 45-to-54-year-old middle-aged population are overweight or obese, according to the findings.
WHAT IS Body Mass Index?
The body mass index (BMI) is the standard measurement for obesity; it is calculated by dividing an individual’s weight by their height.
A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy, while a BMI between 25 and 30 is considered obese.
However quick and simple BMI may be, it is contentious.
Because it does not differentiate between weight from fat and muscle, athletes in peak physical condition, such as rugby players and sprinters, may be classified as overweight or obese due to their muscle mass.
BMI also does not account for the distribution of body fat. It is well-known that ‘apple-shaped’ persons with more fat stored around their belly have a higher risk of health issues such as type 2 diabetes than ‘pear-shaped’ people with more fat stored on their hips and thighs, perhaps because fat in this area is less likely to reach their organs.
People with a normal BMI can nevertheless be at risk for health problems, for instance if they have high blood pressure.
Moreover, there is evidence from a number of studies that people can be “fat but fit” – that is, they can have a BMI that classifies them as obese without experiencing significant health repercussions.
Numerous health professionals contend that BMI should be used in conjunction with other indicators, such as smoking status, food, exercise habits, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, to accurately assess an individual’s disease risk.
Men continue to have a higher average BMI than women, although individuals as a whole are gaining weight.
In a generation, the average weight of men appears to have increased by roughly one stone, from 78.9kg (12st 6lbs) in 1993 to 85.1kg (13st 6lbs) last year.
The average weight of women has increased by 11 pounds, from 66.6kg (10st 7lbs) in 1993 to 71.8kg (11st 4lbs) last year.
Between 1993 and 2001, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of obesity, but the incidence has generally increased gradually since then.
The poll, commissioned by NHS Digital and based on interviews with 5,880 adults, revealed that just over a quarter of adults in England – 26% – were obese, with the proportion increasing with age from 8% of adults aged 16 to 24 to over a third of those aged 65 to 74.
The Health Survey for England, 2021, showed that 69% of males are overweight or obese, which is greater than the 59% of women who fall into this category based on their BMI.
And based on the data, middle-aged spread may be particularly prevalent among men.
Among those aged 45 to 54, 82 percent of men and 65 percent of women were determined to be obese.
Obesity and related illnesses cost the NHS an estimated £6.1 billion each year, and the poll indicated that 11% of those with an obese BMI had diabetes, compared to only 3% of those who were neither overweight nor obese.
Obesity-related type 2 diabetes can result in complications such as heart disease, eyesight loss, and renal difficulties.
Even after adjusting for age, more than half of obese people, or 51%, had at least one chronic condition, compared to only 36% of people who were neither overweight nor obese.
In general, the survey reveals that BMI rises with age, reaching its peak between the ages of 47 and 74.
People tend to overestimate their height and underestimate their weight, thus the statistics have been adjusted to accommodate for this.
Based on this, it appears that 25% of men and 26% of women are obese.
Approximately one-fifth of residents in the wealthiest districts of England were obese, compared to more than one-third in the poorest areas.
Seventy-two percent of adults in the North East of England are overweight or obese, compared to only 61 percent in London and 60 percent in the South West, according to the report.
Almost half of adults drank alcohol at least once each week, while 12% were current cigarette smokers, according to the research.
Not only were men more likely to be overweight than women, but they were also more likely to consume alcohol in excess of the recommended weekly quantity.
Approximately 28% of men reported consuming more than 14 units of alcohol per week, compared to 15% of women.
Naveed Sattar, a professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said in response to the statistics, ‘These figures once again highlight the critical need to address the nation’s expanding waistlines, as the risk of not doing so is more people living with multiple conditions linked to obesity, resulting in more suffering and even greater costs to the NHS.
To truly understand and combat the changing rate of obesity in England, we must return to physically measuring people’s body mass index (BMI) as opposed to doing phone surveys
»Survey shows that early seven out of ten males are overweight or obese, up from 58% in 1993«