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One third of UK women obese by 2030

The World Health Organization has published its projections for 2030 on the number of obese and overweight people in 53 countries across Europe
Obesity

A third of women in the UK are likely to be obese in 15 years’ time, compared with just over a quarter in 2010.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has made this estimate as part of projections across European countries.

Analysts predicted that in the UK, 33% of women and 36% of men will be obese in 2030, compared with 26% for both in 2010. The women’s figure is the 10th highest among 53 European countries, while the men’s is the 11th highest.

About 59% of women and 70% of men were overweight or obese in 2010 but these figures will be 64% and 74% respectively in 2030, WHO estimates. Ireland will have a startling 89% of men overweight in 2030 – the highest in Europe – and 85% of women, WHO projects.

The figures were released at the European Congress on Obesity in Prague.

Dr Laura Webber, director of public health modelling at UK Health Forum in London, said: ‘Our study presents a worrying picture of rising obesity across Europe. There is no silver bullet but governments must do more to restrict unhealthy food marketing and make healthy food more affordable.’