Overweight prevalence by gender in England 2021

In 2021, 43 percent of men and 32 percent of women in England were classed as overweight. At first glance, it may seem that the share of overweight people in England has decreased since the year 2000, but the share of obesity in England has increased since then, indicating that England’s problem with weight has gotten worse.

Strain on health service due to obesity

The number of hospital admissions as a result of obesity in England has increased alongside this rise in obesity. In the period 2019/20, over eight thousand women and 2.6 thousand men were admitted to hospital. An escalation from the admission levels in 2002/03. The highest number of admissions due to obesity were found in the age group 45 to 54 years, with over 3.1 thousand admissions in that age group.

Situation in Scotland

In Scotland in 2020, the mean Body Mass Index of women was 27.8 and for men it was 27.5. A BMI of over 25 is classed as overweight. While the share of adults classed as obese or morbidly obese in Scotland in this year was 30 percent for women and 26 percent for men.

Overweight prevalence among adults in England from 2000 to 2021, by gender

Characteristic	Men	Women
2000	45%	34%
2001	47%	33%
2002	43%	34%
2003	43%	33%
2004	44%	34%
2005	43%	32%
2006	43%	32%
2007	41%	32%
2008	42%	32%
2009	44%	33%
2010	42%	32%
2011	41%	33%
2012	42%	32%
2013	41%	33%
2014	41%	31%
2015	41%	31%
2016	40%	30%
2017	40%	31%
2018	41%	30%
2019	41%	31%
2021	43%	32%

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Release date

December 2022

More information

Region

United Kingdom (England)

Survey time period

2021

Number of respondents

5,355*

Age group

16 years and older

Method of interview

Telephone interview

Supplementary notes

* Weighted bases: (men) = 2,535, n (women) = 2,892

The source provides the following definition: "overweight: 25 to less than 30 kilograms per square meter."

In the surveys prior to 2003, data was not weighted for non-response.

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