Obesity, physical activity and nutrition
This new profile combines the indicators from the obesity and physical activity profiles. This merger of the two profiles has been guided by comments received from users in the health and social care statistics consultation and additional feedback from users.
To ensure that indicators published in this profile are timely, useful and robust, a number of indicators have been discontinued. Full details of the indicators removed are in this uploaded spreadsheet.
This profile presents the latest available data to help understand and monitor the patterns and trends in obesity, physical activity and nutrition at national, regional, and local levels in England.
Obesity
Tackling obesity is one of the greatest long-term health challenges currently faced in England. The 2022 Health Survey for England reported that around two-thirds (64%) of adults are above a healthy weight, and of these half are living with obesity. In England, data from the National Child Measurement Programme, displayed in this profile, shows that 1 in 3 children leaving primary school are overweight or living with obesity with 1 in 5 living with obesity. Obesity is associated with reduced life expectancy and a range of health conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver and respiratory disease and cancer. Obesity can also have an impact on mental health.
Physical activity
Evidence from the World Health Organization shows that physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality accounting for 6% of deaths globally. People who have a physically active lifestyle have a 20-35% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and stroke compared to those who have a sedentary lifestyle. Regular physical activity is also associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and colon/breast cancer and with improved mental health. In older adults, physical activity is associated with increased functional capacities.
The 2022 Health Survey for England reported that 22% of adults in England were physically inactive. Data from the Active Lives Survey, displayed in this profile, shows that around two-thirds (67%) of adults in England are meeting the recommended level of physical activity which varies across local areas from 49.9% to 80.5%.
Nutrition
Healthy eating is associated with decreased risk of overweight and obesity and chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and certain cancers. However, there is a large gap between nutrition recommendations and what the data shows we actually eat. For example, in England, the Health Survey for England reports that less than a third of adults currently meet the ‘five a day’ target for fruit and vegetables. Data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey show people in the UK are consuming higher than recommended amounts of sugar, saturated fat and salt, and lower than recommended levels of fibre and other key nutrients.
Child measurement data for Scotland is available from Public Health Scotland, and for Wales from Public Health Wales. International data on obesity prevalence, physical activity and nutrition is published in the World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory.
Recent updates
3 July 2025
New report assessing sugar reduction in drinks published.
The publication is an assessment of progress by industry to reduce sugar in drinks covered by the Soft Drink Industry Levy (SDIL), and in juices and milk-based drinks.
5 June 2025
New report on the changes in food and drink purchasing and the impact on diet and nutrition.
June 2025
The Obesity and Physical Activity profiles have been merged into this new profile displaying data on obesity, physical activity and nutrition.
May 2025
New data for 2023 to 2024 from the Active Lives Adult Survey has been added to the profile at local authority level.
The 'Adult prevalence data' topic has been updated with data for the following indicators:
The 'Contextual indicators' topic has been updated with data for the following indicators:
See the statistical commentary for more information.
April 2025
New local authority indicators have been added using data linking children's reception (age 4 to 5 years) and year 6 (age 10 to 11 years) measurements. The new indicators in the Child BMI Tracking topic show the proportions of children moving from a healthy weight in reception to overweight (including obesity) in year 6 and the proportions of children who were healthy weight in reception that remained healthy weight in year 6.
A national report has also been published examining the patterns and trends in the movement between body mass index (BMI) categories from reception to year 6 in England looking at differences by sex, ethnic group, deprivation decile, and region.
February 2025
New indicators using NCMP data on average (mean) height of children aged 5 and 11 years, and prevalence of short stature among children in reception (age 4 to 5 years) and year 6 (age 10 to 11 years) have been added for England, regions, local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICB). These are in a new topic called Child height data.
Height data statistical commentary
A new indicator has been added showing fast food outlets per 100,000 population for local authorities and includes region and England data.
Fast food data statistical commentary
November 2024
2023 to 2024 NCMP data added for local authorities, Integrated Care Boards (ICB), regions and England.
2023 to 2024 NCMP data added to the small area data domain (MSOA/Ward) showing data for prevalence of overweight and obesity.
PowerPoint presentations showing data on the patterns and trends in child obesity for England, the nine regions, and upper tier local authorities from the 2023 to 2024 National Child Measurement Programme added to Reports data view.
PowerPoint presentation on the patterns and trends in adult obesity for England added to Reports data view.
November 2024 statistical commentary
May 2024
New data for 2022 to 2023 from the Active Lives Survey has been added to the Profile at local authority level.
The 'Adult prevalence data' topic has been updated with data for the following indicators:
The 'Contextual indicators' topic has been updated with data for the following indicators:
See the statistical commentary for more information.
March 2024
PowerPoint presentations showing data on the patterns and trends in child obesity for local authorities from the 2022 to 2023 National Child Measurement Programme added to Reports data view.
February 2024
First report assessing progress towards meeting the 2017 calorie reduction guidelines published: Analysis of food categories in the calorie reduction guidelines: 2017 to 2021
The report includes analysis of retailer and manufacturer branded products purchased and taken into the home as well as food and drink purchased for consumption out of the home. It also presents estimates of excess calorie intake for children and adults.
November 2023
2022 to 2023 NCMP data added for local authorities, Integrated Care Board (ICB), regions and England.
2022 to 2023 NCMP data added to the small area data domain (MSOA/Ward) showing data for prevalence of overweight and obesity.
PowerPoint presentations showing data on the patterns and trends in child obesity for England and the nine regions from the 2022 to 2023 National Child Measurement Programme added to Reports data view.
November 2023 statistical commentary
June 2023
New NCMP report: Changes in the prevalence of child obesity between 2019 to 2020 and 2021 to 2022
May 2023
New data for 2021 to 2022 for the indicators on adult obesity, and overweight (including obesity) prevalence at local authority level has been added to the 'Adult prevalence data' topic using data from the Active Lives Adult Survey.
See the statistical commentary for more information https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/obesity-profile-update-may-2023
February 2023
PowerPoint presentations on the patterns and trends in child obesity for England, regions and upper tier local authorities and patterns and trends in adult obesity for England added to Reports data view.