In an NHS survey published today, 15 December 2022, it is revealed that a quarter of adults in England are obese, and Stamford and the South Kesteven Districts are no exception.

Reasons include poor diet, lack of exercise, income and social deprivation.

Figures released in the NHS Digital Health Survey for England, show that 26% of adults in England were obese - with obesity increasing with age from 8% of adults aged 16-24 to 32% of those aged 65-74. 

Obesity prevalence was lowest among adults living in the least deprived areas (20%) and highest in the most deprived areas (34%). 

A higher proportion of men were either overweight or obese (69%) compared with women (59%). 

In South Kesteven, the latest figures show 69% of adults are overweight or obese, with a much larger proportion being overweight than obese - aligning the areas with the national average.

On top of this, approximately 11% of South Kesteven reception children, aged four or five, are deemed overweight or obese - and by the last year of primary school, aged 10 and 11, this figure surpasses 18%.

These figures have been reached by measuring Body Mass Index (BMI), defined as weight in kilograms divided by the height in metres squared (kg/m2). This allows for differences in weight due to height.

The Health Survey for England is commissioned by NHS Digital and carried out by the National Centre for Social Research in conjunction with UCL, which co-authors the report.