Recent estimates from the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities (OHID), based on the Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey, reveal alarming obesity trends across England.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England's national medical director, has emphasized the urgent need to tackle rising obesity rates, which pose significant challenges to public health and incur substantial costs to the health service.

In the 2023/24 period, 44 local authorities, including Doncaster, Stockton-on-Tees, and Walsall, reported obesity rates exceeding 33.3%, marking an increase from previous years.

Regular physical activity is encouraged as a crucial strategy to reduce obesity risk and enhance mental well-being.

These findings underscore a growing public health concern regarding obesity, necessitating targeted interventions and policy responses.

In response to this crisis, the UK government has initiated measures such as restricting junk food advertising aimed at children and empowering local authorities to limit new takeaway establishments near schools.

In stark contrast, nine of the ten areas with the lowest obesity rates are located in southern England, with Islington, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Camden showing rates as low as 11.0%.

This data highlights a significant 27.8 percentage point gap between the highest and lowest obesity levels in the country, underscoring the health disparities that exist.

The OHID emphasizes that obesity is linked to various chronic diseases and can adversely affect mental health, stressing the importance of regular physical activity.

He also highlighted the importance of support programs available through the NHS to help combat this growing issue.