House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Jul 2005 (pt 35)

5 Jul 2005 : Column 356W—continued

Obesity

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the numbers of obese (a) adults and (b) children in (i) East Yorkshire and (ii) England; and how these figures compare with levels of obesity in other developed countries. [3659]

Caroline Flint [holding answer 13 June 2005]: The prevention and management of obesity are at the heart of many of the Government's priority areas and the foundation for all future work to tackle obesity has been laid out in the White Paper, Choosing Health".

Information is not available in exactly the form requested. Figures from the Health Survey for England are shown in table 1.
1: Obesity prevalence in England

Adults⁽²⁵⁾ classed as obese as a proportion of the total sample North and East Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire strategic health authority England

Men (percentage) 25.2 22.9

Women (percentage) 27.1 23.4

Number of adults surveyed

Men 486 5,966

Women 599 7,090

Children⁽²⁶⁾ classed as obese as a proportion of the total sample Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region England

Boys (percentage) 12.3 16.0

Girls (percentage) 12.5 15.9

Number of children surveyed

Boys 516 5,442

Girls 483 5,381

⁽²⁵⁾Aged 16 and over with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30.
⁽²⁶⁾Aged 2–15 with a valid BMI measurement. United Kingdom national BMI percentile classification used to classify obesity in children.
Note:
Figures for adults are weighted to reduce bias from non-response to the survey.
Source:
Health Survey for England 2000–02 and 2003

Adults⁽²⁵⁾ classed as obese as a proportion of the total sample	North and East Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire strategic health authority	England
Men (percentage)	25.2	22.9
Women (percentage)	27.1	23.4

Number of adults surveyed
Men	486	5,966
Women	599	7,090

Children⁽²⁶⁾ classed as obese as a proportion of the total sample	Yorkshire and the Humber Government office region	England
Boys (percentage)	12.3	16.0
Girls (percentage)	12.5	15.9

Number of children surveyed
Boys	516	5,442
Girls	483	5,381

Figures from other developed countries are shown in table 2.
2: Obesity—percentage of adult population with a BMI greater than 30 kilogram/square metre

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003

Australia — — 8.3 c 10.8-⁽²⁷⁾c 21.7-⁽²⁷⁾c 21.7-⁽²⁸⁾c 21.7-⁽²⁹⁾c —

Austria — — — 8.5⁽²⁷⁾ 9.1-⁽²⁷⁾ 9.1-⁽²⁸⁾ 9.1–3 —

Belgium — — — — 11.7 ⁽²⁷⁾ 11.7 11.7-⁽²⁷⁾ 11.7-⁽²⁸⁾

Canada — — — — 14.1-⁽²⁷⁾ 13.9 b 13.9-⁽²⁷⁾b 14.3

Czech Republic — — — 11.2⁽²⁹⁾ 14.2-⁽²⁷⁾ 14.8⁽²⁷⁾ 14.8 14.8-⁽²⁷⁾

Denmark — — — 5.5-⁽²⁹⁾ 9.5 9.5-⁽²⁷⁾ 9.5-⁽²⁸⁾ 9.5-⁽²⁹⁾

Finland — — 7.4 8.4 11.2 11.4 11.8 12.8

France — — — 5.8 9 9.0-⁽²⁷⁾ 9.4 9.4-⁽²⁷⁾

Germany — — — — 11.5-⁽²⁷⁾ 11.5-⁽²⁸⁾ 12.9 ⁽²⁷⁾ 12.9

Greece — — — — 21.9⁽²⁹⁾ 21.9⁽²⁸⁾ 21.9 ⁽²⁷⁾ 21.9

Hungary — — — — 18.2 18.2-⁽²⁷⁾ 18.8 ⁽²⁷⁾ 18.8

Iceland — — — 7.5 12.4 ⁽²⁸⁾ 12.4 ⁽²⁷⁾ 12.4 12.4-⁽²⁷⁾

Ireland — — — — 10.0-⁽²⁸⁾ 13.0⁽²⁷⁾ 13 13.0-⁽²⁷⁾

Italy — — — — 8.6 8.5 8.5 8.5-⁽²⁷⁾

Japan — — 2 2.3 2.9 3.2 3.6 3.2

Korea — — — — 3.2 ⁽²⁷⁾ 3.2 3.2-⁽²⁷⁾ 3.2-⁽²⁸⁾

Luxembourg — — — — 16.3 17.9 17.3 18.4

Mexico — — — — 24.2 24.2⁽²⁷⁾ 24.2-⁽²⁸⁾ 24.2-⁽²⁹⁾

Netherlands — — 5.1⁽²⁷⁾ 6.1 9.4 9.3 10 10.0-⁽²⁷⁾

New Zealand — — — 11.1-⁽²⁷⁾ 17.0-⁽²⁹⁾ 20.9⁽²⁸⁾ 8.3 20.9

Norway — — — — 6.4-⁽²⁸⁾ 8.3⁽²⁷⁾ 8.3 8.3-⁽²⁷⁾

Poland — — — — — — — —

Portugal — — — — 12.8-⁽²⁷⁾ 12.8-⁽²⁸⁾ 12.8-⁽²⁹⁾ —

Slovak Republic — — — 18.9⁽²⁹⁾ 16.2-⁽²⁸⁾ 22.4⁽²⁷⁾ 22.4 22.4-⁽²⁷⁾

Spain — — — 6.8-⁽²⁹⁾ 12.6⁽²⁷⁾ 12.6 12.6-⁽²⁷⁾ 13.1

Sweden — — — 5.5-⁽²⁷⁾ 9.2 9.2 10.2 9.7

Switzerland — — — 5.4⁽²⁸⁾ 7.7 ⁽²⁸⁾ 7.7 ⁽²⁷⁾ 7.7 7.7-⁽²⁷⁾

Turkey — — — — 12.0⁽²⁹⁾ 12.0⁽²⁸⁾ 12.0 ⁽²⁷⁾ 12

United Kingdom — — 7.0 c 14.0 ⁽²⁷⁾c 21.0 c 22.0 c 22.0 c 23.0 c

United States — — 15.0-⁽²⁸⁾c 23.3 ⁽²⁷⁾c 30.5 c 30.5-⁽²⁷⁾c 30.6 c 30.6-⁽²⁷⁾c

Notes:
(a) -1, -2, -3, 1, 2, 3shows that data refers to 1, 2 or 3 previous or following year(s).
(b) Obesity rates are defined as the percentage of the population with a BMI over 30. The BMI is a single number that evaluates an individual's weight status in relation to height (weight/height⁽²⁷⁾ , with weight in kilograms and height in metres).
(c) For Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, figures are based on health examinations, rather than self-reported information. Obesity estimates derived from health examinations are generally higher and more reliable than those coming from self-reports, because they preclude any misreporting of people's height and weight. However, health examinations are only conducted regularly in a few countries.
Note:
Definitions, sources and methods per country are available at www.irdes.fr/ecosante/OCDE/814010.html
Source:
OECD Health data 2005, June 2005

5 Jul 2005 : Column 357W

	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000	2001	2002	2003
Australia	—	—	8.3 c	10.8-⁽²⁷⁾c	21.7-⁽²⁷⁾c	21.7-⁽²⁸⁾c	21.7-⁽²⁹⁾c	—
Austria	—	—	—	8.5⁽²⁷⁾	9.1-⁽²⁷⁾	9.1-⁽²⁸⁾	9.1–3	—
Belgium	—	—	—	—	11.7 ⁽²⁷⁾	11.7	11.7-⁽²⁷⁾	11.7-⁽²⁸⁾
Canada	—	—	—	—	14.1-⁽²⁷⁾	13.9 b	13.9-⁽²⁷⁾b	14.3
Czech Republic	—	—	—	11.2⁽²⁹⁾	14.2-⁽²⁷⁾	14.8⁽²⁷⁾	14.8	14.8-⁽²⁷⁾
Denmark	—	—	—	5.5-⁽²⁹⁾	9.5	9.5-⁽²⁷⁾	9.5-⁽²⁸⁾	9.5-⁽²⁹⁾
Finland	—	—	7.4	8.4	11.2	11.4	11.8	12.8
France	—	—	—	5.8	9	9.0-⁽²⁷⁾	9.4	9.4-⁽²⁷⁾
Germany	—	—	—	—	11.5-⁽²⁷⁾	11.5-⁽²⁸⁾	12.9 ⁽²⁷⁾	12.9
Greece	—	—	—	—	21.9⁽²⁹⁾	21.9⁽²⁸⁾	21.9 ⁽²⁷⁾	21.9
Hungary	—	—	—	—	18.2	18.2-⁽²⁷⁾	18.8 ⁽²⁷⁾	18.8
Iceland	—	—	—	7.5	12.4 ⁽²⁸⁾	12.4 ⁽²⁷⁾	12.4	12.4-⁽²⁷⁾
Ireland	—	—	—	—	10.0-⁽²⁸⁾	13.0⁽²⁷⁾	13	13.0-⁽²⁷⁾
Italy	—	—	—	—	8.6	8.5	8.5	8.5-⁽²⁷⁾
Japan	—	—	2	2.3	2.9	3.2	3.6	3.2
Korea	—	—	—	—	3.2 ⁽²⁷⁾	3.2	3.2-⁽²⁷⁾	3.2-⁽²⁸⁾
Luxembourg	—	—	—	—	16.3	17.9	17.3	18.4
Mexico	—	—	—	—	24.2	24.2⁽²⁷⁾	24.2-⁽²⁸⁾	24.2-⁽²⁹⁾
Netherlands	—	—	5.1⁽²⁷⁾	6.1	9.4	9.3	10	10.0-⁽²⁷⁾
New Zealand	—	—	—	11.1-⁽²⁷⁾	17.0-⁽²⁹⁾	20.9⁽²⁸⁾	8.3	20.9
Norway	—	—	—	—	6.4-⁽²⁸⁾	8.3⁽²⁷⁾	8.3	8.3-⁽²⁷⁾
Poland	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Portugal	—	—	—	—	12.8-⁽²⁷⁾	12.8-⁽²⁸⁾	12.8-⁽²⁹⁾	—
Slovak Republic	—	—	—	18.9⁽²⁹⁾	16.2-⁽²⁸⁾	22.4⁽²⁷⁾	22.4	22.4-⁽²⁷⁾
Spain	—	—	—	6.8-⁽²⁹⁾	12.6⁽²⁷⁾	12.6	12.6-⁽²⁷⁾	13.1
Sweden	—	—	—	5.5-⁽²⁷⁾	9.2	9.2	10.2	9.7
Switzerland	—	—	—	5.4⁽²⁸⁾	7.7 ⁽²⁸⁾	7.7 ⁽²⁷⁾	7.7	7.7-⁽²⁷⁾
Turkey	—	—	—	—	12.0⁽²⁹⁾	12.0⁽²⁸⁾	12.0 ⁽²⁷⁾	12
United Kingdom	—	—	7.0 c	14.0 ⁽²⁷⁾c	21.0 c	22.0 c	22.0 c	23.0 c
United States	—	—	15.0-⁽²⁸⁾c	23.3 ⁽²⁷⁾c	30.5 c	30.5-⁽²⁷⁾c	30.6 c	30.6-⁽²⁷⁾c

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the United Kingdom are obese; and what estimate has been made of the number of people who died as a result of obesity in each of the last five years. [3898]

Caroline Flint: The available information is given in the table. Although figures are requested for the United Kingdom, information in respect of obesity prevalence in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the devolved administrations. While the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with Ministers in the Northern Ireland office.

Obesity prevalence figures are taken from the results of the health survey for England for 2003, the latest year for which figures are available.

5 Jul 2005 : Column 358W

Obesity prevalence in England

Adults classed as obese as a proportion of the total sample (percentage) 22.6

Number of adults surveyed⁽²⁸⁾ 13,089

Children classed as obese as a proportion of the total sample (percentage) 16.6

Number of children surveyed⁽²⁹⁾ 2854

⁽²⁸⁾Aged 16 and over with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30.
⁽²⁹⁾Aged 2–15 with a valid BMI measurement UK National BMI percentile classification used to classify obesity in children.
Note:
Adult figures are weighted to reduce bias arising from non-response to the survey.
Source:
Health survey for England 2003


Adults classed as obese as a proportion of the total sample (percentage)	22.6
Number of adults surveyed⁽²⁸⁾	13,089
Children classed as obese as a proportion of the total sample (percentage)	16.6
Number of children surveyed⁽²⁹⁾	2854

With regard to how many obese people died in each of those years, whether a person was obese is not routinely recorded at death certification. However, data on deaths where the underlying cause was certified as obesity or where this condition contributed to the death are collected. The table shows the number of deaths in England and Wales where obesity was the underlying cause of death and where obesity contributed to the death, for the calendar years 1999 to 2003.
Number of deaths where obesity (ICD-9 278.0; ICD-10 E66) was the underlying cause of death or contributed to the death,England and Wales, 1999–2003

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Underlying cause 165 161 183 182 219

Contributed to death 597 626 695 732 885

Total number of deaths from all causes 556,118 535,664 530,373 533,527 538,254

Note:
Data are for occurrences of death per calendar year.
Source:
Office for National Statistics

5 Jul 2005 : Column 359W

	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Underlying cause	165	161	183	182	219
Contributed to death	597	626	695	732	885
Total number of deaths from all causes	556,118	535,664	530,373	533,527	538,254

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