One in ten children is obese by the time they start school, while there has been a sharp rise in the number of people admitted to hospital with obesity-related conditions, according to data from the NHS Information Centre, which shows that almost all the indicators for the future of the crisis are still pointing the wrong way.
About 24 per cent of men and 26 per cent of women were classified as obese in 2011, compared with 13 per cent and 16 per cent in 1993, when the data was first collected, The Independent said.
Graham Rowan, the chairman of the Obesity Management Association, warned that the epidemic was "spiralling out of control".
Tim Straughan, the chief executive of the Health and Social Care Information Centre, which compiled the data, said soaring obesity rates coincided with a decline in healthy eating and a lack of exercise.
Household purchases of fresh and processed fruit and vegetables have fallen since 2008. Purchases of fruit were 4.1 per cent lower in 2011 than in 2008, while the volume of vegetables bought dropped by 2.4 per cent in the same period, including a 6.6 per cent drop in fresh green vegetables.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
