British women are the fattest in Western Europe

1 in 12 British women are clinically obese, a study has shown.

12:03 29 May 2014

A recent study has revealed that British women are the fattest in Western Europe with 1 in 12 being clinically obese. 

 

According to recent research that was published in The Lancet medical journal, over eight per cent of females in the United Kingdom aged under 20 are obese however, 29.2per cent are overweight. In addition, 25per cent of all the adult women in the UK are obese. 

 

Professor John Newton, of Public Health England, said: "The levels of obesity in the UK - and indeed, across the world - are of great concern. That is why Public Health England is putting in so much effort to attempt to reverse the trend.” 

 

"The challenge of obesity is at the heart of current debate about the health of the nation and we are working closely with local authorities, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector to tackle this complex issue."

 

Another startling piece of information revealed by the study is that from 1980 to 2013, the number of overweight people jumped from 857 million to 2.1 billion. This represents a 28per cent increase for adults and 47per cent among children.