Tackling Obesity in England - National Audit Office

TACKLING OBESITY IN ENGLANDHealth Survey for England 1 , in 1998, includedmeasurement of obesity by household income and bythe social class of the head of each participatinghousehold. Analysis of these data shows that theprevalence of obesity in both men and women increasesfrom the highest to the lowest income category. Obesityis also higher in manual than in non-manual socialclasses. In particular, there is a strong social classgradient in the prevalence of obesity in women: theprevalence was only 14 per cent in the highest socialclass (Social Class I), whereas in the lowest (SocialClass V), 28 per cent of women were obese (Figure 30).There is a higher prevalence ofobesity in certain ethnic groups inEngland5 Preliminary findings from the Health Survey for Englandfor 1999 43 also show a higher prevalence of obesityamong certain ethnic groups. In particular, prevalence ishigher among Black Caribbean and Pakistani womenthan among women in general.6 Certain ethnic groups may be more geneticallypredisposed to obesity than others. There is also a link todifferent cultural influences, which can affect both dietand the amount of physical activity undertaken. This hasbeen observed most clearly in recent migrantpopulations. Studies have shown that some migrantgroups who move to the United Kingdom become moreoverweight than the general population. This may bebecause of a combination of poor social conditions, lowlevels of physical activity and a sudden increase in theamount of fat in the diet 2 .Obesity is a problem throughoutEngland7 Data from the Health Survey for England in 1998 1indicate some regional variation in the prevalence ofobesity but they also show that it is a significant problemin all parts of England (Figure 31). At least 18 per cent ofadults - more than one in six - in all regions were obese,with the highest prevalence being 22 per cent in theWest Midlands. All regions showed an increase over thetwo years since the previous study, when the range wasbetween 15 and 19 per cent.30 Prevalence of obesity in men and women from each of the six social classes measured by the Health Survey for England 1998302520Percentage obese151050MenWomenIIINMSocial ClassIIIMappendix fourSource:National Audit Office analysis of Health Survey for England 1 data53