Obesity and Physical Activity JSNA

Age

5-11 years: obesity prevalence increases significantly between the ages of 5 and 11, especially among children from lower income families5.

18-24 years: 4 to 6 times more likely to move into a higher BMI category than those aged 65-746. This group is particularly vulnerable due to major life transitions such as leaving home, starting work or university.

55-64 years: the highest prevalence of obesity is found in adults aged 55-64 where 32.5% are obese and 73.5% are overweight or obese, after age 64 obesity prevalence begins to decline7.

Socioeconomic status

Lower socioeconomic status is associated with higher obesity risk which includes occupational social class, educational attainment and area-level deprivation8. Longitudinal data has shown that socioeconomic disadvantage in childhood or adulthood leads to higher BMI which persists across the life course and even generations9.

The socioeconomic gradient in obesity is steeper for women than for men8.

Socioeconomic status influences obesity through health behaviours, environmental conditions, psychological stress and access to healthcare and support services10.

Qualifications

Adults with no formal qualifications or GCSE-level education are at greatest risk of obesity11. Educational attainment is one of the most consistent predictors of obesity, especially among women12.

This is due to health literacy, limited access to healthy food and leisure activities due to financial restraints and those living in more deprived areas with limited access to safe spaces for exercise and healthy food options.

Ethnicity

Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian ethnic groups are at highest risk of obesity due to BMI thresholds, body composition and central adiposity13.

Sexual Orientation

Women who identify as lesbian or bisexual are at most risk14 which is influenced by factors such as minority stress, discrimination and mental health challenges15.

Vulnerable Children

Children from low-income families are disproportionately affected and these inequalities widen with age. At age 5 children at the bottom income quintile had twice the risk of obesity compared to those in the top quintile and by age 11 this increases to three times higher risk16.

Children in the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to be obese compared to those in the least deprived17.

Children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities are at greater risk18 due to barriers including limited access to inclusive physical activity, economic constraints and lack of tailored health promotion materials.

Poorer children often face reduced access to healthy food, safe play areas and structured physical activities16.

Family health behaviours such as maternal smoking during pregnancy, early introduction of solid foods and low breastfeeding rates are associated with increased obesity risk16.