Latest news with #SportEnglandActiveLivesAdultSurvey
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Quarter of adults in York living with obesity, new figures suggest
A quarter of adults in York were living with obesity last year, new figures suggest. It comes as the number of people in the city who have an unhealthy weight is 'significantly higher' now than a decade ago, according to City of York Council's health boss. The estimates have been published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), using data from the Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey. They suggest that 25.2 per cent of adults in York were living with obesity in 2023/24. The number is an increase of 1.7 per cent compared to the previous year, and up 2.5 per cent from 2018/19. Across England, the figures suggest a growing number of local areas are estimated to have at least a third of adults living with obesity – many of them in the Midlands or the North East. Peter Roderick, City of York Council's director of public health, said the data relating to York is 'similar to the national average, and the numbers of people in the city who don't have a healthy weight is significantly higher now than a decade ago'. A quarter of adults in York were living with obesity last year, new figures suggest (Image: Supplied) He said excess calorie consumption is 'one of the major factors' that contributes to obesity, adding that 'half of our calories now come from ultra processed foods'. Mr Roderick said the council is 'taking action' to combat obesity, including by encouraging healthier food and nutritional options in schools, and providing cookery classes and nutritional education. He added that the council has 'ended the promotion of foods high in fat, salt and sugar, and we're developing plans to shape healthier food environments in the future'. 'We're working with partners across the city to help support everyone to adopt a health approach to nutrition, to consider portion sizes carefully, to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and reduce the portions of non-nutritious ultra-processed foods in their diet. 'York residents looking for ways to lose weight or get more active can find a range of help and support through our Health Trainer service.' Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England's national medical director, has said obesity 'remains one of the biggest public health issues we face as a society'. The figures, he said, 'show a small but concerning rise in the number of overweight and obese people." 'It is crucial we reverse decades of rising obesity rates and the associated cost to the health service, and those who needs support can access help through the NHS weight management programme via their GP," Prof Powis said. Recommended reading: Men's mental health taskforce plan as mayor opens up on his own struggles First five years of life key to preventing obesity, researchers suggest Weight loss injections may have an anti-cancer effect 'beyond weight loss' 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 is a global and complex public health concern,' an OHID spokesperson 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.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Over 30 per cent of adults in Bradford are obese, figures suggest
NEW figures have revealed the scale of the obesity problem among adults in Bradford. The estimates have been published by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), using data from the Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey, and suggest that 31.2 per cent of adults living in the area in 2023-24 were obese. This is slightly down from figures from 2022-23, when an estimated 32.9 per cent of adults aged 18 or over were classed as obese. However, the data is still a sharp increase from 2018-19, when 26.5 per cent of adults were obese. Rose Dunlop, interim director of public health at Bradford Council, described obesity as a "growing public health concern globally" and outlined what the authority was doing to help tackle the problem. She said: "In Bradford, we recently launched our Good Food Strategy, which sets our system-wide approach to reducing food poverty, making the supply chain more sustainable, and improve access to healthy food. "Our physical activity strategy, Every Movement Counts, sets out how we are getting people in the district to be more active. "Our Living Well initiative brings together a wide range of resources we have in the district to support children and adults achieve the behaviours which are associated with having a healthy weight, eating a balanced nutritious diet, being more active as we go about our daily activities, and getting good sleep. "From classrooms to campaigns, to community groups and cycle lanes, the aim of Living Well is to transform Bradford a place where it becomes easier for families to live healthier and more active lives. "Under the Living Well initiative, residents of Bradford can also access free home-based support to families and young people who would like personalised confidential support to manage their weight. "Anyone looking for support to ways to improve their wellbeing can visit our website at "We have also just launched our Choose What Works For You campaign which offers people from across the district the opportunity to access a free service to help manage a healthy weight. "This includes Weight Watchers, Slimming World, the Brotherhood and APNA. "These services provide tailored support to help people build better habits, stay motivated and join like-minded people on the same journey in improving health."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rise in local areas in England with at least a third of adults obese
Rise in local areas in England with at least a third of adults obese A growing number of local areas in England are estimated to have at least a third of adults living with obesity, many of them in the Midlands or the North East, new figures suggest. Doncaster, Stockton-on-Tees and Walsall are among 44 local authorities in England where at least 33.3% of adults were likely to be obese in 2023/24. All three authorities were below this level five years earlier in 2018/19, as were other urban areas in these parts of the country, such as Durham and Hull. The estimates have been published by the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID), using data from the Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey. ADVERTISEMENT They suggest that West Lindsey in Lincolnshire had the highest proportion of people aged 18 and over living with obesity in the year to March 2024, at 38.8%, followed by Hartlepool (37.9%) and Bolsover in Derbyshire (37.9%). The entire top 10 are located either in the Midlands, Yorkshire or the North East. Of the 44 local authorities with at least a third of adults classed as obese in the latest year, only five are in southern England. 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%), Hammersmith & Fulham (12.1%) and Camden (11.0%). 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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%) and lowest (11.0%) 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% of adults in 2023/24, and lowest in those living in the least deprived areas (19.8%). ADVERTISEMENT Obesity levels are estimated to be higher among adults identifying as black (33.1%) than those in other ethnic groups, including white British (27.8%), mixed (23.0%) and Asian (20.6%). 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.
