A new study has found that over 42 million of the UK’s adult population are in danger of being overweight or obese by 2040.
An “alarming” report by Cancer Research UK has found that 7 in 10 (71%) people are predicted to be overweight or obese by 2040, a rise from 64% today. Of this, almost 4 in 10 (36%) adults (21 million) will be obese.
“These projections should serve as a wake-up call to the government about the state of our nation’s health,” said Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of CRUK. “Ministers mustn’t keep kicking the can down the road when it comes to tackling the obesity crisis, delaying measures that will lead to healthier food options.”
Last week, the government announced it was delaying measures—which include a ban on buy-one-get-one-free deals for foods high in fat, salt and sugar—to combat unhealthy eating for 12 months. Former Tory leader William Hague said the decision was “morally reprehensible”.
“I urge them to revisit this decision and take bold action on obesity, the second biggest preventable risk factor for cancer in the UK,” said Mitchell.
The decision to ban junk food adverts before 9pm has also been postponed for a year.
As well as increased chances of high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, those that are overweight or obese face the risk of at least 13 different types of cancer. In the UK, almost 22,800 cases of cancer are linked to obesity every 12 months.
The CRUK report also revealed the number of people who are obese could soon surpass those that are at a healthy weight.
The number of clinically obese cases is expected to almost double from 3% to 6% in the UK. Approximately 60% of women are currently overweight or obese but this figure is expected to increase to 67% in the next twenty years. Similarly, 74% of men in the UK will be overweight or obese by 2040.
The report also found that 35% of people living in the most deprived areas of England were obese. This is expected to increase to 46% by 2040. On the other hand, the number of obese people coming from advantageous backgrounds was slightly lower, at 22%. However, this is predicted to rise to 25% by 2040.
Dr Julie Sharp, head of health and patient information at CRUK, said: “Obesity is a complex issue and the world around us can make it very difficult to keep a healthy weight. Government action is key in making sure that the healthy option is readily available and affordable for people and addressing the wider barriers that prevent people from living healthy lives. If these staggering trends continue, obesity will eclipse smoking as the biggest cause of cancer.”
