Page last updated: Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:13:06 GMT
Overweight and Obesity
Obesity is a complex disease, caused by a wide range of factors. At a basic level, people gain weight by eating more calories (energy) than they use over a prolonged period of time. Excess
calories accumulate and are stored by the body as fat, leading to overweight and obesity. However, there are many variables, including biological, behavioural and societal influences that increase
the likelihood of an individual gaining excessive weight.1
Overweight and obese people are at greater risk of ill health and premature death from a number of diseases. The greater the body mass above the ideal, the higher the risk. Severely obese
individuals are likely to die, on average, 11 years earlier than those with a healthy weight.2
Overweight and obesity in London: key facts Adults (16 years and over)
- More than half of the adult population in London are either overweight or obese. The Health Survey for England (HSfE) found that 23% of men and 23% of women in London were obese,
and a further 39% of men and 30% of women were overweight in 2008.3 The prevalence of overweight and obesity in London is similar to the rest of England.
- Factors such as age and ethnicity can increase a person’s likelihood of being obese. Results from the London Boost survey show that a higher proportion (26%) of Londoners aged
55 years and over were obese compared with those aged 16-34 years (9%) or 34-54 years (18%) and that the Black or Black British groups had the highest prevalence of obesity (22%) of
any ethnic group in London.4 Although these findings are consistent with HSfE results, the figures are not directly comparable due to differences in
methodologies used.
- The London Boost survey found the prevalence of adult overweight and obesity to be higher in Outer London (54%) compared with Inner London (46%). However, there was little
variation in the prevalence of overweight and obesity between the more deprived and less deprived areas of London, and between each of the socio-economic
groups.4
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Children
- Results from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) indicate that London has the highest prevalence of childhood obesity of all the English regions. In 2008/09, 11% of children
in reception year (ages 4-5) and 21% in year 6 (ages 10-11) in London were obese. A further 12% of children in reception year and 15% of children in year 6 were
overweight.5
- There is significant inequality in the risk of obesity between London’s primary care trusts (PCTs). Six PCTs, mainly in inner and east London, have levels of obesity in year 6 which are
significantly higher than the London average. Seven PCTs have levels which are significantly lower than the London average.5
- The risk of obesity among children tends to be higher in more deprived areas of London compared with less deprived areas.6
- Children from Black ethnic groups have a higher risk of obesity compared with children from London as a whole, while children from White British, White and Asian, Indian and Chinese
ethnic groups have lower risk.6 This relationship partly explains the higher obesity risks in London, where one in five of the children is of Black ethnic origin
compared to about 1 in 100 in the rest of England. However, some of the differences between ethnic groups may be due to differences in growth patterns and body composition, particularly height.7
- In 2008 the HSfE found that 18% of boys and 20% of girls (aged 2-15) in London were obese.3 This survey did not find a significant difference in the
prevalence of childhood obesity between London and other regions of England. As the HSfE is based on a relatively small sample, regional differences may not be evident.
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Healthy weight, healthy lives asserts the Government’s
ambition ‘to reverse the rising tide of overweight and obesity’ and outlines the strategy to help people achieve and maintain a healthy weight, with an initial focus on children. The target,
which is part of a Public Service Agreement, is to reduce, by 2020, the proportion of overweight and obese children to 2000 levels. The report
One year on reviews progress on the delivery of the
strategy and sets out priorities for the future.
Locally, PCTs are required to set targets to reduce childhood obesity that meet community needs and will be agreed with the local education authority and partners. A toolkit has been provided
to support PCTs to make plans that will secure changes in diet, promote healthy lifestyles and extend physical activity interventions.8
The Change4Life national social marketing campaign aims to prevent people from becoming overweight by encouraging
a better diet and more physical activity – "Eat well, move more, live longer".
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