Obesity rates within the UK tend to have a higher prominence in the most deprived areas. Recent figures suggest that the most deprived tenth has an overweight and obesity rate of 67% compared to the least deprived tenth with 57%[1]. Therefore there is the suggestion that socioeconomic background has some influence on the obesity rates of the population. Further research suggests that there are greater overweight and obesity levels in the North than in the South of England[2], which could be caused by deprivation. These findings are further supported by the statistics for Wales and Northern Ireland, in which those from disadvantaged areas are more likely to be obese[1]. Deprivation and its links to obesity can also affect children, with statistics suggesting children (Year 6) who were from the most deprived areas had an obesity rate of around 26%, compared to around 11% for those from the least deprived areas.
Comparisons can also be made between socioeconomic background, ethnicity and obesity prevalence. Black people in the UK had the greatest unemployment rates out of all ethnic groups (9%) in 2018[3] with further statistics suggesting that 73% of black people are obese, which is higher than any other ethnic group[1]. Public Health England have also stated that black children from deprived areas are more prone to obesity compared to their white counterparts[4] whilst further declaring that “income, social deprivation and ethnicity have an important impact on the likelihood of becoming obese”[5]. This suggests a correlation between socioeconomic status and ethnicity in relation to obesity levels in the UK.
As stated previously, there are higher levels of obesity in the North of England than in the South. When considering environment as a factor, it is found that people in the UK who are the most deprived also live in areas with a high prevalence of fast-food chains. Around a quarter of adults and a fifth of children eat out at a minimum of once a week from a fast-food outlet[5]. When looking at Leeds, in the North of England, there is a positive correlation between the prevalence of fast food outlets and obesity in children but also a relationship between fast food outlet density and areas of high deprivation[6]. Meals from these outlets tend to have elevated levels of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt which are associated with weight gain and therefore obesity.
In summary, those from the most deprived areas and who are of particular ethnic backgrounds are more likely to be prone to overweight and obesity. Thus those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds should be encouraged to participate in regular physical activity, with an emphasis on low cost, effective strategies to promote healthy behaviours.
References:
[1] BAKER, C., 2019. Obesity Statistics.
[2] SCARBOROUGH, P AND S. ALLENDER, 2008. The North-South Gap in Overweight and Obesity in England. British Journal of Nutrition, 100(3), 677-684
[3] OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS, 2019. Ethnicity Facts and Figures.
[4] PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND, 2019. Differences in Child Obesity by Ethnic Group.
[5] PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND, 2017. Working Together to Address Obesity in Adult Mental Health Secure Units.
[6] FRASER, L and K. EDWARDS, 2010. The Association Between the Geography of Fast Food Outlets and Childhood Obesity Rates in Leeds, UK. Health and Place, 16(6), 1124-1128
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