Interactive map reveals obesity capital of the UK where 70% of people are obese – where does your area rank?

TWO thirds of adults in England are overweight or obese, the latest statistics show.

And now, an interactive map reveals which areas have larger waistlines than others.

New NHS data revealed the number one hotspot for tubby adult Brits is Yorkshire and Humber.

Seven out of every ten (72 per cent) people living in the northern region are classified as overweight or obese – meaning their body mass index (BMI) is 25 or above.

Carrying a lot of extra weight or being obese can increase the risk for all sorts of health problems, from diabetes to different types of cancer.

The newly published data, for 2022, covers the period in which Britain was plunged into a cost-of-living crisis and emerged from a series of lockdowns.

Both situations, experts have warned, could trigger weight gain.

The second fattest region was the North West, where 69 per cent of residents fell under the same category.

Meanwhile, the bronze medal went to the West Midlands, where 68 per cent of residents were podgy.

The North East ranked closely behind in fourth place, with 67 per cent of its residents being overweight or obese, with the North West hard on its heels with 66 per cent.

The East Midlands and the South West came in joint sixth place with 63 per cent of people living in both places falling into the unhealthy group.

The South East took seventh place, with 62 per cent of residents overweight or obese.

The areas with the lowest proportion of chubby locals were neighbouring East of England and London.

Some 61 per cent of those living in the East of England there were classified as overweight or obese, which dropped down to 59 per cent in the Big Smoke.

The data, based on the Health Survey for England, surveyed almost 8,000 adults aged 16 and over. 

The stark new figures also revealed that with each passing decade, Brits were adding more ‘cushioning’ around their waistline.

It found that weight gain peaked – for both men and women – between the ages of 55 and 74.

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Dr Clare Hambling, NHS England’s director for diabetes and obesity, said: “Obesity is one of the biggest threats to health in the UK – it affects every human organ system and can have a major impact on people’s lives.

“Obesity increases people’s risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, mental ill health and many other illnesses which can lead to shorter lives, or affect quality of life, with greater need for healthcare.

“Today’s figures show the importance of supporting people who are overweight or living with obesity to reach a healthier weight.

“The NHS can play its part in that, alongside local councils, but we need to work with the rest of society to tackle the issues that contribute to obesity to help people remain as healthy as possible.”

Cost-of-living and lockdown-related weight gain

On average, women need about 2,000 calories per day to maintain a healthy weight, while men need around 2,500.

Weight gain occurs when a person, over time, consumes more calories than they burn.

Research conducted in 2022, found that more than half of Brits believed the increased cost of living had made it harder for them to make healthy food and drink choices.

A poll of 2,000 adults found more than a fifth (23 per cent) weighed more in 2022 compared to a year before that, while 58 per cent of these believe the financial crisis has contributed to their weight gain.

Figures from 2021, suggested 40 per cent of British adults gained an average of 3kg during the pandemic.

They said this was because people tended to move less during prolonged periods of lockdown, with emotional eating and gym closures intensifying the trend.

Obesity has been well established as increasing the risk of serious health conditions that can damage the heart, such as high blood pressure, as well as cancers.

Being too fat has been estimated to cause one in 20 cancer cases in Britain, according to Cancer Research UK. 

Britain’s growing obesity crisis is also estimated to cost the nation nearly £100billion per year.