Nearly 30% adults in the UK live with obesity, surpassing the European average, and this is rising rapidly – particularly in deprived communities where prevalence reaches 37%. Obesity significantly increases the risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and depression. The economic toll is also substantial, with c. £58 billion in annual costs across the UK in 2020, including £6.5 billion spent by the NHS. This is largely driven by the fact that people with obesity have three times higher levels of hospital resource utilisation than the non-obese population.
Despite being a longstanding health priority, obesity rates have doubled in 20 years, underscoring the need for a new approach. Traditional strategies haven’t kept pace with rising demand and evolving treatment options. Future solutions must move beyond conventional models, focusing on market shaping, digital innovation, and cross-sector collaboration to improve patient outcomes.
Explore our snapshot to learn more about the drivers behind this and what it means for patients, innovation, and the future of healthcare.
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