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Obesity

Volume 448: debated on Wednesday 12 July 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults were (i) obese and (ii) overweight when measured by body mass index according to the Government’s most recent health surveys in each (A) London borough and (B) constituency; and if she will make a statement. (82971)

The main source of data on the prevalence of obesity and overweight among children and adults is the Health Survey for England (HSE). Data are not available in the format requested. Tables one to three show the most recent data on the prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adults. In all the tables overweight excludes obese and data are only available for males/females. The sample size of the HSE does not allow data to be produced at the level of boroughs or individual constituencies.

Table 1 presents data on overweight and obesity among adults in each of the strategic health authorities (SHA) within the London Government Office Region (GOR) as a three-year average over the period 2000-02.

Table 1: prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults1 in each London SHA, by gender (three-year average) 2000-02

England

Percentage

North East London

North West London

North Central London

South East London

South West London

Men

Overweight

40.9

41.9

39.4

43.3

46.7

Obese

17.4

14.4

18.1

17.9

22.6

Women

Overweight

34.5

28.9

31.5

33.5

28.3

Obese

23.8

22.1

18.8

20.5

25.9

1 All aged 16 and over.

Source:

Health and lifestyle indicators for SHAs, 1994 to 2002

Table 2 shows the prevalence of overweight and obese adults in England in 2004.

Table 2: prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults1 in England, 20042

England

Men

Women

Overweight (percentage)

43.9

33.9

Obese (percentage)

22.7

23.2

Bases (number)

39,244

39,802

1 All aged 16 and over.

2 Figures are weighted for non-response.

Source:

Health and lifestyle indicators for SHAs, 1994 to 2002

Table 3 shows the proportion of children aged two to 15 estimated to be overweight and obese in England in 2004.

Table 3: prevalence of overweight and obesity among children1 in England, 20042

England

Boys

Girls

Overweight (percentage)

13.9

16.6

Obese (percentage)

19.2

18.5

Bases (number)

8,833

8,228

1 Aged two to 15.

2 Figures are weighted for non-response.

Source:

Health Survey for England 2004—updating of trend tables to include 2004 data