The United Kingdom is the most obese country in western Europe. Obesity in the United Kingdom is a significant contemporary health concern, with officials stating that it is one of the leading preventable causes of death.
Obesity rates have doubled over the past two decades, and 63% of UK adults are overweight, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Britain is now sixth heaviest – “considerably worse” than the rest of the 35-member club of wealthy nations.
The UK’s comparatively high adolescent drunkenness rate is also a key concern.
However, the OECD Health at a Glance report said the overall health and life expectancy of Britons remained average – aided by a reduction in smoking and adult drinking – despite a noted shortage in hospital beds and staff.
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British obesity rates have grown to 27% of people with a body mass index (BMI) above 30. The OECD average is 19%.
Overweight people have a BMI between 25 and 30.
The OECD lists the UK as one of five countries suffering from “historically high” rates of obesity since the 1990s – increasing by 92%, compared to 65% in the United States.
“Obesity means higher risk of chronic illnesses, particularly hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases,” the report said.