Arabic version: زيادة حالات السمنة بين البالغين الشباب تثير مخاوف صحية
New cases of obesity are rising fastest in younger adults in England, according to a study published in The Lancet. Rates of new diagnoses for people in their 30s were nearly 20% higher in 2024-25 than they were in 2019-20, while new cases for people in their 20s jumped by 16%. Although the most common ages for diagnosis remain in the 40s and 50s, the trend towards earlier diagnosis is alarming, as obesity increases the risk of serious illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
According to BBC News, researchers also identified significant disparities among different ethnic groups, with earlier onset of obesity being more common in non-white people. Areas with higher levels of deprivation experienced steeper rises in obesity rates. The acceleration in new cases among younger adults was more unexpected, prompting further investigation into underlying causes.
Lead researcher Robert Fletcher mentioned that adults in their 20s and 30s grew up during a time of increased unhealthy food availability. He noted the rise of takeaways and fast food outlets and aggressive advertising targeting these age groups. Additionally, factors like the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis have likely had a bigger impact on younger individuals, making it harder to maintain healthy lifestyles.
Sarah Perman from the Association of Directors of Public Health echoed these concerns, emphasizing the dominance of unhealthier options in supermarkets and the affordability of unhealthy foods compared to healthier alternatives. Research indicates that healthy foods are twice as expensive per calorie than unhealthy foods.
The study analyzed 55 million adult NHS patient records to track obesity diagnoses, revealing that the rate of new cases among those aged 30 to 39 rose from 20.3 to 24.1 per 1,000 people from 2019-20 to 2024-25. For those aged 20 to 29, the rate increased from 17.5 to 20.3 per 1,000. In contrast, new case rates fell among those aged 60-79, potentially due to access to weight loss drugs. Overall, the proportion of people recorded as obese rose from 26.2% to 30.3% during this period.
Experts are alarmed by these findings, viewing them as further evidence of how since the pandemic inequalities have widened. The Department of Health and Social Care stated that the government is taking “decisive action” on obesity, including new restrictions on junk food advertising and targets on healthy food sales.
