Obesity rates climb fastest among England's young adults

A major new study of health records covering nearly 55 million adults in England reveals that obesity is rising fastest among younger adults, with profound disparities linked to socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geography. The research, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, shows the sharpest increases in new obesity diagnoses are occurring in people in their 20s and 30s, signaling a generational shift in health risks.

The analysis of NHS electronic health records from 2019 to 2025 found the rate of new obesity cases for adults aged 30 to 39 was nearly 20 percent higher in 2024-25 than in 2019-20. For those aged 20 to 29, new cases rose by 16 percent in the same period. These increases were the largest of any age group, while rates actually fell among adults aged 60 to 79. Overall, nearly one in three adults in England is now affected by obesity, up from just over one in four before the pandemic.

Lead researcher Robert Fletcher of the University of Cambridge said the trend among younger adults is especially concerning given the long-term health implications. Obesity significantly increases the risk of conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. He...