The cost of Obesity in the UK

We may never know the true cost of obesity to the United Kingdom. What we do know is that it is substantial and encompasses various direct and indirect expenses related to healthcare, lost productivity, and social and economic impacts. 

Obesity is associated with a range of health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers, which place a significant burden on the healthcare system. The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK incurs substantial costs for the treatment and management of obesity-related conditions. Weight related illness may lead to absenteeism and reduced productivity in the workplace due to health-related issues. It can result in lost workdays and increased sick leave, affecting both employees and employers. 

Weight related co-morbidities can lead to increased social and economic costs, including decreased quality of life for individuals, as well as the potential need for disability and long-term care services. Obesity is associated with a reduction in life expectancy, and the associated healthcare costs, including end-of-life care, can be significant. The government and healthcare providers invest in interventions and prevention programs to address the obesity epidemic, which also involves costs. The cost of obesity can vary over time and may be influenced by various factors, including changes in healthcare policies and interventions to address obesity.

Statistics

• In 2015/16, there were almost 10,000 hospital admissions in England directly attributable to obesity* and more than half-a-million admissions where obesity was a factor¹
• It was estimated that the NHS in England spent £6.1 billion on overweight and obesity-related ill-health in 2014/15. This figure could rise to £9.7 billion by 2050²
• The high obesity prevalence in the UK imposes costs that are material and rising on individuals, the NHS and the wider economy. An independent study led by Frontier Economics, estimates the current social annual cost of obesity in the UK at around £58 billion, equivalent to around 3% of the 2020 UK GDP.³

*The majority of these admissions involved metabolic surgery procedures.

1. NHS Digital. Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet. England: 2017.
Available at: https://files.digital.nhs.uk/publicationimport/pub23xxx/pub23742/obes-phys-acti-diet-eng-2017-rep.pdf;

2. Public Health England guidance.
Health matters: obesity and the food environment. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-obesity-and-the-food-environment/health-matters-obesity-and-the-food-environment–2;

3. Frontier Economics. The annual cost of obesity in the UK. Available at: https://www.frontier-economics.com/uk/en/news-and-articles/articles/article-i9130-the-annual-social-cost-of-obesity-in-the-uk/