The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:
As General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people between (a) 35 and 45, (b) 46 and 55 and (c) 56 and 65 years old died of diseases related to obesity in (i) England, (ii) East Sussex and (iii) Lewes constituency in each year since 2000. (311168)
The tables attached provide the number of deaths where obesity was the underlying cause of death (Table J), and where obesity was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor (Table 2), for persons aged between (a) 35 and 45 years, (b) 46 and 55 years and (c) 56 and 65 years, in (i) England, (ii) East Sussex and (iii) Lewes constituency, for the years 2000 to 2008 (the latest year available).
It is not possible to identify all deaths 'related' to obesity. For example, obesity may play an important role in deaths due to heart disease or diabetes, but it is rarely recorded on the death certificate. The figures presented in Tables 1 and 2 are therefore likely to underestimate the actual number of deaths in which obesity is involved.
Deaths (persons) England East Sussex Lewes 35-45 46-55 56-65 35-45 46-55 56-65 35-45 46-55 56-65 2000 28 25 35 0 0 2 0 0 0 2001 25 38 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 2002 24 40 35 1 0 1 0 0 0 2003 33 47 54 1 0 0 0 0 0 2004 31 40 65 0 0 0 0 0 0 2005 29 51 58 0 0 0 0 0 0 2006 36 53 63 0 0 4 0 0 0 2007 30 60 49 0 0 1 0 0 0 2008 48 70 74 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 278.0 (Obesity) for the year 2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code E66 (Obesity) for 2001 onwards. 2 There are 11 years within age group (a) and 10 years within age groups (b) and (c), so the figures are not completely comparable. 3 Figures for England exclude deaths of non-residents. 4 Based on boundaries as of 2009. 5 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.
Deaths (persons) England East Sussex Lewes 35-45 46-55 56-65 35-45 46-55 56-65 35-45 46-55 56-65 2000 75 121 162 0 0 3 0 0 0 2001 71 141 146 0 1 0 0 0 0 2002 72 129 178 1 3 3 0 1 1 2003 96 162 207 1 1 0 0 1 0 2004 102 154 241 0 1 2 0 0 0 2005 101 155 276 1 1 2 0 0 0 2006 113 184 285 0 0 5 0 0 1 2007 117 222 316 0 2 2 0 0 0 2008 129 257 371 0 4 4 0 0 1 1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code 278.0 (Obesity) for the year 2000 and Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code E66 (Obesity) for 2001 onwards. Figures are included where obesity was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, either as the underlying cause or as a contributory factor. 2 There are 11 years within age group (a) and 10 years within age groups (b) and (c), so the figures are not completely comparable. 3 Figures for England exclude deaths of non-residents. 4 Based on boundaries as of 2009. 5 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.