Obesity rates have doubled in England since 1993 - what's going on?

If England's obesity rates were still the same as 1993 there would be seven million fewer adults living with obesity.

There are 14 million adults classified as obese, despite successive governments launching 14 separate obesity strategies over the past three decades.

It's clear something isn't working, so what's behind the increase?

According to new analysis by the King's Fund, 15% of England's adult population - those aged 16 and over - in 1993 was obese, with rates achieving a record high of 30% in 2024.

Their analysis suggests obesity rates are rising fastest in 16-to-24 year-olds, with 18% classified as obese or severely obese in 2024 compared with just 6% in 1993.

Accounting for population change, this means there are now one million young adults living with obesity in England - 700,000 more than if rates had not risen over the past three decades.

Dave Buck, senior fellow for public health at the King's Fund, called this rise "clearly worrying" and says governments have "talked the talk, but not sufficiently walked the walk" in addressing obesity rates.

"This analysis shows the scale of the failure to take the necessary action on tackling this obesity timebomb," he added.