New cases of obesity are rising fastest among younger adults in England, with rates for people in their 30s nearly 20% higher in 2024-25 than before the pandemic, according to a study published in The Lancet. For those in their 20s, new diagnoses jumped by 16% over the same period – increases that outpaced older age groups, even as people in their 40s and 50s still accounted for the most common diagnoses.
The acceleration surprised researchers, who said earlier onset of obesity was more common among non-white people and in the most deprived areas – patterns well established but now intensifying among the young.
“New obesity diagnoses in England rose nearly 20% among 30-year-olds and 16% among 20-year-olds since 2019, study finds.”
Lead researcher Robert Fletcher pointed to three key factors he believes are driving the trend: a boom in unhealthy food during the formative years of today’s 20- and 30-somethings, the pandemic, and the cost‑of‑living crisis. “They have been surrounded by unhealthy food in their formative years,” Fletcher said. “On our high streets there has been a proliferation of takeaways and fast food outlets and unhealthy food has been heavily advertised as these age groups have been growing up.” He added that “the stress of looking after children, while working from home and then being able to afford healthy food as inflation increased, has made healthier lifestyles more difficult.”
Sarah Perman of the Association of Directors of Public Health agreed. She said unhealthier options now dominate “our supermarkets, corner shops and fast food outlets”. “From infancy, children and young people are bombarded with advertising that encourages an unhealthy diet. It is also far cheaper and easier for individuals to consume foods and drinks high in fat, sugar, and salt than healthier alternatives.” Research by the Food Foundation has found healthy foods are twice as expensive per calorie.
Katharine Jenner of the Obesity Health Alliance said the environment of the past two decades “has had a huge influence on habit‑forming behaviours” among younger adults. She pointed to the digital environment as a likely contributor, with younger age groups more exposed to food apps and social media, while the pandemic disrupted physical activity.
With obesity increasing the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer, the trend towards earlier diagnosis raises concerns about future health burdens. The researchers stress that while the findings do not prove causation, the combination of a lifelong unhealthy food environment, the cost of living crisis and disrupted lifestyles appears to be accelerating the epidemic among those still in early adulthood.