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Deaths: Obesity

Volume 504: debated on Monday 18 January 2010

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 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 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.

Table 1: Number of deaths where obesity was the underlying cause of death1 by age group,2 England3, East Sussex and Lewes constituency,4 2000-085

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.

Table 2: Number of deaths where obesity was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate1 by age group,2 England3 East Sussex and Lewes constiuency,4 2000-085

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.