Obesity

Obesity has now been acknowledged to be one of the most serious public health problems facing the UK. Being obese increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, some cancers, heart disease and liver disease. It is estimated that approximately 26% of the Kent adult population is obese (Fingertips).

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Our resources

Data and reports

Adult Obesity Needs Assessment 2025

The Adult Obesity Needs Assessment looks at adult obesity in Kent. It shows that more people are becoming overweight or living with obesity, and that action is needed. Over 64% of adults in Kent are affected, especially in coastal areas and places with higher levels of poverty. Obesity increases the risk of chronic diseases, affects mental health, and places significant strain on health and social care services.

Key messages:

  • Obesity is caused by many things working together — like where people live, how much money they have, and their ethnic background.
  • To tackle obesity, we need to improve access to healthy food, make it easier to be active every day and create more chances for people to live healthier lives.
  • A whole systems approach is needed to make obesity a shared responsibility. This means everyone, including councils, health services, and communities, should work together to:
    • Promote healthy environments
    • Focus on what causes poor health (wider determinants), not just the symptoms
    • Reduce health inequalities
    • Plan for the long term
    • Put people at the centre of support and services
  • The top priorities are:
    • Make weight management services easier to use.
    • Provide tailored support for people who need it most.
    • Invest in local, long-lasting programmes that help reduce health inequalities and improve wellbeing.

Please read the full report for evidence and recommendations. There are also three insight reports created by Activmob in 2022 which support the needs assessment.

Adult Obesity NA appendix 1 - Medications and Healthy Weight

Adult Obesity NA appendix 2 - Minority Ethnic Groups

Adult Obesity NA appendix 3 - Weight Management in Postmenopausal Women

Children

In 2020, we produced a health needs assessment on childhood weight..

Every year we analyse the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for Kent children in reception year and year 6.

Other

We have produced literature reviews that examine evidence for engaging with minority groups in weight management programmes and examining the relationship between weight and unemployment.

We have produced a report on eating disorders from figures published in November 2025 as part of the 2023-24 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS). The report shows prevalence estimates for England and applies them to the most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) mid‑year population estimates for Kent.

In 2017 and 2018, we produced reports on the adult lifestyle weight management and family weight management (Tier 2) programmes commissioned by Kent County Council.

External resources

A number of organisations produce statistics relating to obesity and its impact on health, both at national and local level.