British waistlines have been expanding, slowly but surely, for decades. More than a quarter of the adult population is now obese, and when you add in those who are classified merely as overweight, it rises to two thirds. In England, a fifth of children in their final year of primary school were in the obese category. The “food environment” in the UK plays a role, as do rates of physical activity and the availability of help for those who want to lose weight. It is also enmeshed with other issues in society, with rates of obesity higher in poorer areas.

Source: The Times June 28, 2020 23:14 UTC