Rotherham set to gain funding to boost exercise levels
Rotherham is set to gain a funding grant for a range of programmes aimed at increasing physical activity levels amongst the borough's residents.A report to the council's cabinet states the area has one of the highest levels of inactivity in the country, with nearly a third of adults not meeting the recommended levels of exercise.The £455,000 grant from Sport England would focus on areas with the highest levels of inactivity and deprivation to help get people of all ages moving. The report is seeking approval for the proposed spending of the grant and will be presented to the council's cabinet on 17 March.
It proposes spending approximately half of the funding on hiring new staff to help lead the initiative, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.About £85,000 would be spent on projects and community engagement support, with half of this going to the Voluntary Action Rotherham charity.The project aims to work with the organisation to find new ways to make use of local outdoor and green spaces for physical activity.More than £150,000 of the funding pot is set to create an activity hub hosted by Connect Healthcare, providing exercise sessions for those with long-term health conditions.
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The Independent
07-05-2025
- The Independent
Proportion of adults living with obesity in England, by local area
Here is a full list of the proportion of adults in England estimated to be living with obesity in 2023/24, broken down by local authority area. The figures have been published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities using data from the Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey. The list covers all upper-tier and lower-tier local authorities in England, including both district and county councils. It reads, from left to right: name of local authority; region; proportion of adults estimated to be living with obesity in 2023/24; the equivalent proportion (in brackets) in 2022/23 and in 2018/19. West Lindsey (E Midlands): 38.8% (2022/23 26.3%, 2018/19 25.6%) Hartlepool (NE England): 37.9% (33.8%, 35.6%)Bolsover (E Midlands): 37.9% (35.0%, 38.6%)Cannock Chase (W Midlands): 37.8% (38.4%, 28.4%)Doncaster (Yorkshire/Humber): 37.5% (29.7%, 30.2%)Tamworth (W Midlands): 37.4% (35.9%, 30.3%)Gateshead (NE England): 37.2% (35.8%, 28.4%)Hull (Yorkshire/Humber): 36.8% (36.5%, 30.9%)Amber Valley (E Midlands): 36.6% (29.1%, 27.4%)Stockton-on-Tees (NE England): 36.4% (34.1%, 31.9%)Telford & Wrekin (W Midlands): 36.3% (28.4%, 34.4%)Walsall (W Midlands): 36.2% (29.0%, 28.0%)Halton (NW England): 36.0% (34.5%, 29.5%) Rotherham (Yorkshire/Humber): 36.0% (37.8%, 36.8%)Newark & Sherwood (E Midlands): 35.9% (29.0%, 33.1%)East Lindsey (E Midlands): 35.9% (35.6%, 26.1%)North Warwickshire (W Midlands): 35.8% (33.4%, 26.3%)South Holland (E Midlands): 35.6% (35.6%, 31.0%)Tendring (E England): 35.6% (28.1%, 26.4%)Ashfield (E Midlands): 35.4% (36.1%, 26.9%)Middlesbrough (NE England): 35.3% (34.7%, 33.3%)Wakefield (Yorkshire/Humber): 35.1% (31.0%, 23.9%)North Lincolnshire (Yorkshire/Humber): 35.1% (35.8%, 28.8%)Fenland (E England): 34.9% (36.6%, 36.0%)Barnsley (Yorkshire/Humber): 34.9% (28.8%, 27.8%)Wyre Forest (W Midlands): 34.8% (30.7%, 23.9%)Burnley (NW England): 34.7% (30.5%, 30.2%)Stoke-on-Trent (W Midlands): 34.7% (38.7%, 29.6%)Gosport (SE England): 34.7% (33.1%, 36.6%)Thurrock (E England): 34.6% (26.3%, 35.8%)King's Lynn & West Norfolk (E England): 34.6% (28.6%, 26.3%)Tameside (NW England): 34.5% (34.6%, 26.9%)Durham (NE England): 34.4% (34.0%, 29.5%)Breckland (E England): 34.4% (25.0%, 29.7%)North West Leicestershire (E Midlands): 34.2% (28.4%, 29.9%)Great Yarmouth (E England): 34.1% (39.1%, 29.3%)St Helens (NW England): 34.0% (34.4%, 28.0%)Redditch (W Midlands): 33.7% (32.0%, 25.9%)Swindon (SW England): 33.7% (30.1%, 27.2%)Havant (SE England): 33.6% (30.1%, 28.1%)Crawley (SE England): 33.5% (22.9%, 26.8%)Colchester (E England): 33.5% (31.9%, 19.7%)Medway (SE England): 33.3% (30.2%, 31.2%)Darlington (NE England): 33.3% (30.5%, 21.5%)Blackpool (NW England): 33.2% (33.2%, 28.2%)Derby (E Midlands): 33.0% (34.6%, 26.5%)Mansfield (E Midlands): 33.0% (27.4%, 24.8%)Redcar & Cleveland (NE England): 33.0% (31.2%, 32.2%)Southend-on-Sea (E England): 32.9% (31.4%, 20.0%)Knowsley (NW England): 32.9% (35.6%, 30.7%)Sunderland (NE England): 32.8% (30.4%, 29.0%)Chesterfield (E Midlands): 32.8% (38.1%, 33.6%)North Kesteven (E Midlands): 32.6% (25.1%, 22.9%)Pendle (NW England): 32.6% (30.6%, 20.2%)Plymouth (SW England): 32.6% (26.0%, 26.5%)Oldham (NW England): 32.4% (32.7%, 26.9%)Broxbourne (E England): 32.3% (25.6%, 23.2%)Rochford (E England): 32.3% (24.5%, 22.2%)Harlow (E England): 32.3% (31.2%, 28.5%)North East Derbyshire (E Midlands): 32.3% (33.4%, 24.2%)Peterborough (E England): 32.2% (26.5%, 30.5%)West Devon (SW England): 32.1% (23.8%, 19.8%)Stevenage (E England): 32.0% (32.4%, 28.7%)Maldon (E England): 32.0% (33.7%, 27.8%)Dover (SE England): 32.0% (32.6%, 30.0%)Sandwell (W Midlands): 31.9% (35.1%, 35.0%)Lincolnshire (E Midlands): 31.9% (29.4%, 27.3%)Rugby (W Midlands): 31.9% (29.0%, 29.1%)Boston (E Midlands): 31.9% (32.3%, 28.0%)New Forest (SE England): 31.8% (25.0%, 21.4%)Fylde (NW England): 31.8% (27.6%, 24.3%)North East Lincolnshire (Yorkshire/Humber): 31.8% (30.0%, 28.9%)Wirral (NW England): 31.6% (35.7%, 24.6%)Rossendale (NW England): 31.6% (26.0%, 27.5%)Portsmouth (SE England): 31.4% (30.8%, 30.0%)Rochdale (NW England): 31.3% (34.9%, 27.3%)Gloucester (SW England): 31.3% (27.9%, 24.2%)Bradford (Yorkshire/Humber): 31.2% (32.9%, 26.5%)Wolverhampton (W Midlands): 31.1% (33.0%, 26.5%)Castle Point (E England): 31.1% (29.7%, 26.3%)South Tyneside (NE England): 31.1% (38.8%, 29.4%)Barking & Dagenham (London): 31.0% (30.5%, 33.3%)Dudley (W Midlands): 31.0% (32.2%, 27.4%)North Northamptonshire (E Midlands): 30.9% (29.2%, 25.4%)Cumberland (NW England): 30.9% (26.6%, 25.5%)Bolton (NW England): 30.9% (28.1%, 28.7%)Blackburn with Darwen (NW England): 30.8% (31.0%, 24.4%)High Peak (E Midlands): 30.8% (21.2%, 18.6%)East Suffolk (E England): 30.8% (27.2%, 26.2%)Derbyshire (E Midlands): 30.8% (30.1%, 27.0%)Gedling (E Midlands): 30.7% (29.1%, 24.5%)Northumberland (NE England): 30.7% (28.8%, 25.9%)Slough (SE England): 30.7% (26.2%, 24.0%)Isles of Scilly (SW England): 30.6% (14.0%, 25.1%)Luton (E England): 30.5% (23.2%, 30.4%)Wokingham (SE England): 30.5% (19.0%, 19.4%)Basildon (E England): 30.4% (34.4%, 28.7%)Havering (London): 30.4% (25.7%, 19.7%)East Riding of Yorkshire (Yorkshire/Humber): 30.1% (27.7%, 22.4%)Test Valley (SE England): 30.1% (20.9%, 19.1%)Newcastle-under-Lyme (W Midlands): 30.1% (32.9%, 22.0%)Liverpool (NW England): 30.1% (29.8%, 28.6%)Wigan (NW England): 30.0% (39.1%, 31.3%)Chichester (SE England): 30.0% (24.7%, 18.3%)Hyndburn (NW England): 30.0% (34.4%, 33.4%)Bracknell Forest (SE England): 30.0% (27.3%, 18.7%)Isle of Wight (SE England): 29.9% (21.9%, 24.9%)Nottinghamshire (E Midlands): 29.9% (27.9%, 26.6%)Mid Suffolk (E England): 29.8% (32.4%, 20.4%)Preston (NW England): 29.8% (24.5%, 22.7%)South Derbyshire (E Midlands): 29.6% (27.8%, 25.5%)Warrington (NW England): 29.6% (25.2%, 21.8%)Central Bedfordshire (E England): 29.5% (24.7%, 22.4%)Norfolk (E England): 29.4% (27.4%, 24.7%)Worcestershire (W Midlands): 29.4% (27.7%, 22.4%)Birmingham (W Midlands): 29.3% (25.9%, 26.1%)Staffordshire (W Midlands): 29.2% (29.0%, 25.1%)Arun (SE England): 29.0% (29.6%, 24.1%)East Staffordshire (W Midlands): 29.0% (27.7%, 29.5%)Bromsgrove (W Midlands): 29.0% (23.6%, 20.7%)Hastings (SE England): 28.9% (31.2%, 22.6%)Bassetlaw (E Midlands): 28.9% (28.5%, 33.9%)Wychavon (W Midlands): 28.8% (24.7%, 22.0%)Erewash (E Midlands): 28.8% (30.0%, 25.9%)Milton Keynes (SE England): 28.7% (25.9% 24.8%)Eastleigh (SE England): 28.7% (28.0%, 21.4%)Shropshire (W Midlands): 28.6% (28.6%, 26.5%)Tonbridge & Malling (SE England): 28.6% (22.2%, 23.1%)Tewkesbury (SW England): 28.6% (28.5%, 22.8%)Suffolk (E England): 28.5% (26.8%, 26.2%)Lancashire (NW England): 28.5% (28.0%, 25.5%)Essex (E England): 28.5% (29.1%, 23.5%)South Ribble (NW England): 28.5% (25.9%, 21.1%)Sheffield (Yorkshire/Humber): 28.3% (24.5%, 22.9%)Wyre (NW England): 28.3% (29.5%, 30.1%)Newcastle-upon-Tyne (NE England): 28.2% (29.9%, 23.6%)Babergh (E England): 28.2% (21.8%, 27.3%)Cheshire West & Chester (NW England): 28.2% (30.2%, 21.8%) North Yorkshire (Yorkshire/Humber): 28.0% (25.3%, 24.7%)Lincoln (E Midlands): 28.0% (27.4%, 28.6%)Hinckley & Bosworth (E Midlands): 27.9% (32.9%, 23.1%)Staffordshire Moorlands (W Midlands): 27.6% (28.9%, 22.6%)West Suffolk (E England): 27.6% (27.7%, 27.3%)Salford (NW England): 27.6% (28.6%, 25.6%)North Norfolk (E England): 27.5% (29.7%, 20.6%)Dartford (SE England): 27.5% (29.2%, 26.1%)Melton (E Midlands): 27.4% (34.2%, 20.4%)Nottingham (E Midlands): 27.4% (28.0%, 25.2%)Leicestershire (E Midlands): 27.3% (26.2%, 24.3%)Kirklees (Yorkshire/Humber): 27.3% (26.9%, 27.5%)Brentwood (E England): 27.3% (20.5%, 19.2%)Watford (E England): 27.3% (20.8%, 21.4%)Leeds (Yorkshire/Humber): 27.2% (26.2%, 23.2%)Coventry (W Midlands): 27.1% (27.7%, 31.4%)Chorley (NW England): 27.1% (27.0%, 24.8%)Hampshire (SE England): 27.0% (24.7%, 23.0%)Wiltshire (SW England): 27.0% (26.7%, 20.2%)Norwich (E England): 26.9% (23.2%, 21.0%)Calderdale (Yorkshire/Humber): 26.9% (28.2%, 25.4%)Ipswich (E England): 26.8% (25.3%, 28.1%)West Sussex (SE England): 26.8% (23.9%, 22.0%)Herefordshire (W Midlands): 26.8% (26.1%, 26.2%)Nuneaton & Bedworth (W Midlands): 26.6% (34.3%, 28.3%)Sefton (NW England): 26.6% (35.3%, 26.1%)Worcester (W Midlands): 26.6% (26.2%, 26.1%)Gravesham (SE England): 26.6% (35.6%, 29.8%)Leicester (E Midlands): 26.6% (24.9%, 21.2%)Cherwell (SE England): 26.4% (23.4%, 20.1%)Epping Forest (E England): 26.4% (25.7%, 21.6%)Welwyn Hatfield (E England): 26.4% (26.4%, 26.9%)Warwickshire (W Midlands): 26.3% (26.4%, 24.5%)Sutton (London): 26.3% (21.1%, 20.6%)Blaby (E Midlands): 26.2% (25.6%, 23.7%)Lancaster (NW England): 26.2% (25.8%, 27.2%)Bedford (E England): 26.2% (22.3%, 28.6%)Thanet (SE England): 26.2% (28.8%, 28.1%)Stafford (W Midlands): 26.1% (25.9%, 20.9%)Braintree (E England): 26.1% (28.4%, 24.5%)South Staffordshire (W Midlands): 26.1% (25.7%, 26.4%)Stockport (NW England): 26.0% (25.3%, 19.1%)Oadby & Wigston (E Midlands): 26.0% (23.8%, 20.1%)Maidstone (SE England): 26.0% (32.7%, 19.2%)Bury (NW England): 25.9% (30.0%, 24.9%)Reading (SE England): 25.9% (28.2%, 18.5%)Forest of Dean (SW England): 25.9% (34.3%, 22.3%)Torbay (SW England): 25.9% (32.6%, 24.4%)Huntingdonshire (E England): 25.9% (26.3%, 20.3%)North Hertfordshire (E England): 25.8% (19.5%, 17.3%)Malvern Hills (W Midlands): 25.8% (26.4%, 16.2%)Somerset (SW England): 25.8% (27.8%, 23.9%)South Norfolk (E England): 25.8% (22.0%, 22.4%)South Gloucestershire (SW England): 25.7% (23.1%, 23.1%)Hart (SE England): 25.7% (20.0%, 17.5%)Kent (SE England): 25.6% (27.8%, 24.5%)North Tyneside (NE England): 25.6% (29.8%, 30.7%)Ashford (SE England): 25.6% (27.4%, 24.8%)Solihull (W Midlands): 25.5% (22.9%, 20.2%)Rushmoor (SE England): 25.5% (30.2%, 26.8%)Cheshire East (NW England): 25.5% (21.5%, 24.8%)East Devon (SW England): 25.5% (28.9%, 15.4%)Lewes (SE England): 25.4% (24.5%, 24.6%)Charnwood (E Midlands): 25.3% (20.2%, 23.9%)York (Yorkshire/Humber): 25.2% (23.5%, 22.7%)Bexley (London): 25.2% (24.2%, 27.4%)South Kesteven (E Midlands): 25.1% (26.3%, 28.8%)Teignbridge (SW England): 25.0% (22.2%, 20.1%)Mid Devon (SW England): 24.9% (27.2%, 26.3%)Southampton (SE England): 24.9% (29.5%, 23.1%)Gloucestershire (SW England): 24.9% (25.9%, 21.5%)Dacorum (E England): 24.8% (22.9%, 20.3%)East Cambridgeshire (E England): 24.8% (26.8%, 22.9%)East Sussex (SE England): 24.8% (25.3%, 23.8%)Enfield (London): 24.8% (24.0%, 27.8%)Harborough (E Midlands): 24.7% (26.3%, 24.3%)Torridge (SW England): 24.6% (23.6%, 22.0%)West Northamptonshire (E Midlands): 24.6% (27.0%, 24.4%)Broadland (E England): 24.6% (31.2%, 20.6%)Runnymede (SE England): 24.6% (23.0%, 16.9%)Waltham Forest (London): 24.5% (22.4%, 21.0%)Hertfordshire (SE England): 24.5% (22.7%, 22.1%)Croydon (London): 24.4% (24.1%, 20.1%)Dorset (SW England): 24.3% (28.9%, 20.6%)Cambridgeshire (E England): 24.3% (23.9%, 22.0%)Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole (SW England): 24.3% (26.8%, 23.3%)Rushcliffe (E Midlands): 24.2% (19.8%, 17.9%)Horsham (SE England): 24.2% (22.7%, 20.4%)East Hampshire (SE England): 24.1% (17.7%, 17.6%)Sevenoaks (SE England): 24.0% (23.5%, 18.2%)Cornwall (SW England): 24.0% (27.5%, 21.0%)Broxtowe (E Midlands): 23.9% (27.1%, 24.0%)Fareham (SE England): 23.9% (23.7%, 23.2%)Folkestone & Hythe (SE England): 23.8% (24.0%, 23.6%)Lichfield (W Midlands): 23.8% (18.2%, 26.9%)Mid Sussex (SE England): 23.6% (16.1%, 19.8%)Manchester (NW England): 23.5% (27.3%, 24.0%)Swale (SE England): 23.5% (39.1%, 30.8%)Devon (SW England): 23.3% (24.3%, 19.7%)Rother (SE England): 23.3% (23.1%, 28.2%)Greenwich (London): 22.9% (23.2%, 23.8%)Hackney (London): 22.9% (21.9%, 22.1%)Three Rivers (E England): 22.9% (22.3%, 24.0%)Exeter (SW England): 22.9% (21.1%, 19.8%)Stratford-on-Avon (W Midlands): 22.8% (24.8%, 20.9%)Chelmsford (E England): 22.8% (28.6%, 18.9%)Hillingdon (London): 22.8% (22.3%, 19.4%)Worthing (SE England): 22.7% (24.8%, 20.5%)Derbyshire Dales (E Midlands): 22.7% (20.6%, 18.4%)Tandridge (SE England): 22.6% (23.4%, 21.3%)South Cambridgeshire (E England): 22.4% (20.3%, 18.3%)Stroud (SW England): 22.3% (22.6%, 20.1%)Brent (London): 22.2% (19.4%, 13.3%)Westmorland & Furness (NW England): 22.1% (24.8%, 19.8%)Vale of White Horse (SE England): 22.0% (20.6%, 15.1%)West Berkshire (SE England): 22.0% (26.8%, 20.1%)Surrey Heath (SE England): 21.8% (22.5%, 19.8%)Tower Hamlets (London): 21.7% (16.0%, 17.7%)Basingstoke & Deane (SE England): 21.6% (27.4%, 24.2%)Canterbury (SE England): 21.6% (21.5%, 24.1%)Cotswold (SW England): 21.5% (23.1%, 23.1%)Eastbourne (SE England): 21.5% (22.3%, 25.0%)Southwark (London): 21.4% (19.7%, 17.7%)Ealing (London): 21.4% (22.2%, 20.1%)Bromley (London): 21.4% (26.4%, 20.1%)West Oxfordshire (SE England): 21.2% (24.2%, 20.9%)Ribble Valley (NW England): 21.2% (25.8%, 21.3%)West Lancashire (NW England): 20.9% (29.2%, 23.3%)Hertsmere (E England): 20.9% (21.5%, 19.1%)Harrow (London): 20.8% (16.7%, 15.7%)Oxfordshire (SE England): 20.8% (21.3%, 17.2%)Redbridge (London): 20.7% (25.3%, 23.9%)Barnet (London): 20.6% (18.2%, 18.1%)Winchester (SE England): 20.6% (18.3%, 21.1%)Adur (SE England): 20.4% (27.4%, 24.7%)North Somerset (SW England): 20.4% (27.9%, 19.7%)Newham (London): 20.4% (23.3%, 20.9%)Bristol (SW England): 20.3% (22.3%, 17.2%)Wealden (SE England): 20.3% (23.9%, 20.6%)Brighton & Hove (SE England): 20.1% (15.1%, 19.3%)East Hertfordshire (E England): 20.1% (21.1%, 25.1%)Warwick (W Midlands): 20.1% (16.8%, 20.5%)Lewisham (London): 20.1% (23.8%, 20.9%)Rutland (E Midlands): 20.0% (20.2%, 18.0%)Reigate & Banstead (SE England): 19.9% (22.7%, 17.9%)Buckinghamshire (SE England): 19.8% (23.7%, 17.5%)Merton (London): 19.6% (20.9%, 18.6%)Hounslow (London): 19.4% (26.2%, 21.2%)Cheltenham (SW England): 19.3% (18.9%, 18.4%)Windsor & Maidenhead (SE England): 19.3% (23.3%, 15.9%)Spelthorne (SE England): 19.0% (25.2%, 20.6%)Surrey (SE England): 19.0% (20.4%, 17.3%)Guildford (SE England): 18.9% (18.0%, 16.5%)North Devon (SW England): 18.9% (26.5%, 20.8%)Lambeth (London): 18.4% (19.2%, 18.1%)Mole Valley (SE England): 18.2% (19.5%, 14.4%)Waverley (SE England): 18.1% (16.8%, 12.8%)Woking (SE England): 18.0% (16.5%, 21.6%)Bath & North East Somerset (SW England): 17.9% (20.8%, 17.4%)South Oxfordshire (SE England): 17.3% (22.3%, 15.6%)Tunbridge Wells (SE England): 17.2% (18.6%, 18.5%)Trafford (NW England): 16.9% (22.8%, 19.8%)Haringey (London): 16.5% (13.9%, 19.2%)Epsom & Ewell (SE England): 16.4% (21.8%, 16.3%)St Albans (E England): 16.2% (17.3%, 15.1%)Oxford (SE England): 16.2% (16.2%, 14.6%)Cambridge (E England): 16.1% (19.6%, 14.0%)Kingston-upon-Thames (London): 15.8% (15.5%, 15.8%)City of London (London): 15.5% (14.3%, 12.9%)Wandsworth (London): 15.3% (16.3%, 9.9%)Westminster (London): 15.2% (16.2%, 12.6%)Uttlesford (E England): 15.1% (24.7%, 16.6%)Elmbridge (SE England): 14.8% (17.8%, 16.1%)Richmond-upon-Thames (London): 14.7% (20.5%, 12.5%)Kensington & Chelsea (London): 14.3% (13.2%, 19.3%)South Hams (SW England): 13.8% (21.3%, 20.4%)Islington (London): 13.0% (17.9%, 15.6%)Hammersmith & Fulham (London): 12.1% (18.1%, 13.0%)Camden (London): 11.0% (17.3%, 14.1%)
The Independent
07-05-2025
- The Independent
Obesity rises across the UK maps shows worst-affected areas
rates are surging in several areas across England, according to new data, notably in the Midlands and North East. An estimated one-third or more of adults in 44 local authorities are now living with obesity, highlighting a growing health crisis. Doncaster, Stockton-on-Tees, and Walsall are among the areas where obesity prevalence has climbed above 33.3 per cent in 2023/24. Just five years prior, these areas, along with others like Durham and Hull, reported lower figures, indicating a concerning upward trend. The Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID) published these estimates based on the Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey. The data reveals a stark geographical disparity, with Lincolnshire's West Lindsey topping the list at 38.8 per cent obesity prevalence. Hartlepool and Bolsover in Derbyshire follow closely behind, both at 37.9 per cent. Significantly, all ten areas with the highest obesity rates are located in the Midlands, Yorkshire, or the North East. Of the 44 local authorities where obesity affects at least a third of the adult population, only five are situated in southern England, further emphasising the regional divide in this public health challenge. By contrast, nine of the 10 areas with the lowest obesity estimates are in southern England, with the three lowest areas all in London: Islington (13.0 per cent), Hammersmith & Fulham (12.1 per cent) and Camden (11.0 per cent). A total of 317 local authorities in England are included in the survey, meaning around one in seven were estimated to have at least a third of adults living with obesity in 2023/24. This is up from around one in 25 (13 out of 317) in 2018/19. There is a 27.8 percentage point gap between the areas with the highest (38.8 per cent) and lowest (11.0 per cent) obesity levels in the year to March 2024. 'Obesity is a global and complex public health concern,' the OHID said. 'It is associated with reduced life expectancy and is a risk factor for a range of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, liver, and respiratory disease. 'It can also impact on mental health. 'Regular physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, colon and breast cancer, and improved mental health.' The figures also show that prevalence of obesity is highest among those living in the most deprived areas of England, at 37.4 per cent of adults in 2023/24, and lowest in those living in the least deprived areas (19.8 per cent). Obesity levels are estimated to be higher among adults identifying as black (33.1 per cent) than those in other ethnic groups, including white British (27.8 per cent), mixed (23.0 per cent) and Asian (20.6 per cent). Some 252 of the 317 local authorities in England saw an increase in estimated obesity between 2018/19 and 2023/24, while 65 saw a fall. There were 176 authorities that recorded a year-on-year rise between 2022/23 and 2023/24, with 140 seeing a drop and one recording no change. All the data used by the OHID to compile the estimates is based on height and weight that has been self-reported by the survey's participants, which has then been adjusted to more accurately predict figures that would have been measured by a health professional. Obesity Midlands Data
BBC News
05-05-2025
- BBC News
Global NHS osteoarthritis study could lead to new treatments
More than 900 genetic links to osteoarthritis, including 500 which have never been reported, have been uncovered in a research study in Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the "landmark" global study into osteoarthritis was the largest of its degenerative condition affects around 595 million people globally, and is the leading cause of disability and chronic pain worldwide, according to the hospital genome study used genetic information from nearly two million people, and was published in the journal Nature. Led by Helmholtz Munich, the largest scientific research organisation in Germany, genetic codes and DNA of almost half a million osteoarthritis sufferers globally - including 1,000 volunteers from Sheffield - were compared with that of 1.5 million people without the disease, the trust team identified 962 genetic variations more commonly found in those with osteoarthritis; more than 500 of which had not previously been identified, it number osteoarthritis sufferers was predicted to rise to a billion people by 2050 and despite the impact "no disease-modifying treatments are currently available", researchers the new work "paves the way for potential new drug treatments and personalised therapies," they continued. 'Repurpose existing treatments' Prof Mark Wilkinson, Honorary Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the trust and the University of Sheffield, said the findings were "hugely important" and would "open up exciting new avenues" for millions."As well as identifying potential drug targets and opportunities for us to repurpose existing treatments that already target these genes in other conditions, this research has also significantly advanced our understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms associated with the disease," Prof Wilkinson biological processes which regulate the body's internal systems and cell function were found, "shedding light on the disease's biological mechanisms", the trust of these genes contain proteins already targeted by drugs approved for other conditions, which could accelerate treatment development, it added. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
