Inequalities among adults who are overweight or obese
About 2 mins
There are inequalities in rates of adult obesity and being overweight by age, sex, disability, ethnicity and deprivation across the UK
This chart shows the percentage of adults classified as overweight or obese, by age, sex, disability, ethnicity and deprivation in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- In England, the proportion of adults classified as overweight or obese:
- tends to increase with age with 55 to 64-year-olds having the highest rates at 73.5% and 18 to 24-year-olds having the lowest rates at 36.8%. There is a slight drop people aged 85+ (64.1%)
- is higher for men (69.7%) than women (59.2%)
- is higher for disabled people (72.5%) than non-disabled people (62.2%)
- is highest for black people (73.4%) and lowest for Chinese people (32.3%)
- increases with deprivation. 71.2% of adults living in the most deprived tenth of local areas are classified as overweight or obese, compared with 59.4% in the least deprived tenth of local areas.
- In Scotland, the proportion of adults classified as overweight or obese:
- increases with age up to 55 to 64-year-olds, who have the highest rates at 77%. 16 to 24-year-olds are half as likely to be overweight or obese (38%)
- is very similar for men and women (67% and 65% respectively)
- is higher for people with a long-term illness (68%, whether it is a limiting condition or not) than people with no long-term illness (63%)
- is highest for Pakistani people (71%) and lowest for Chinese people (41%)
- increases with deprivation. 71% of adults living in the most deprived tenth of local areas are classified as overweight or obese, compared with 59% in the least deprived tenth of local areas.
- In Wales, the proportion of adults classified as overweight or obese:
- is highest for 45 to 64-year-olds (68%) and lowest for 16 to 44-year-olds (57%)
- is higher for men (65%) than women (57%)
- is higher for adults living in the most deprived fifth of local areas (66%) compared with the least deprived fifth of local areas (58.1%).
- In Northern Ireland, the proportion of adults classified as overweight or obese:
- tends to increase with age. It is highest for 45 to 74-year-olds (78.0%) and lowest for 16 to 24-year-olds (37.3%)
- is higher for men (71.2%) than women (59.7%)
- is higher for adults living in the most deprived fifth of local areas (67.8%) compared with the least deprived fifth of local areas (62%).
- Not all breakdowns are available for each country. Where available, the latest data are presented for each country.
- For Scotland, the disability and ethnicity breakdowns cover the period 2008–11, the age and sex data refer to 2023 and the deprivation data refer to 2022.
Source: Health Foundation of Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, Fingertips, England, 2023/24; Scottish Health Survey, Scotland, 2022; Scottish Health Survey – topic report: equality groups, Scotland, 2012; Scottish Government, Scottish Health Survey, 2022 and 2023; StatsWales, National Survey for Wales, Adult lifestyles by year and age, 2022–23; StatsWales, National Survey for Wales, Adult lifestyles by deprivation, 2022–23; Department of Health NI, Health Survey Northern Ireland, 2022/23
