A new study suggests obesity is increasing most quickly among young adults in England, with noticeable rises in people in their 20s and 30s compared to older age groups.
Researchers found that new obesity diagnoses among people in their 30s were nearly 20 percent higher in 2024 to 2025 than in 2019 to 2020. For those in their 20s, cases increased by around 16 percent.
Although people in their 40s and 50s still account for the highest number of diagnoses overall, the sharpest growth is now shifting towards younger age groups.
Young adults show the fastest increase
The study highlights a clear change in pattern. Younger adults are now seeing faster growth in obesity rates than older populations.
Experts say this trend is concerning because early weight gain raises the long term risk of serious health conditions. These include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
Differences across ethnicity and income
Researchers also found clear differences between population groups.
Obesity rates were higher and rising faster in some non white ethnic groups. Areas with higher levels of deprivation also showed steeper increases.
These gaps have been seen before, but the latest data suggests the differences are widening further.
Possible reasons behind the rise
Lead researcher Robert Fletcher said the study did not directly test causes, but several factors may explain the increase.
He pointed to the food environment young adults grew up in. Fast food outlets have increased in many areas, and unhealthy products are heavily marketed.
He also highlighted recent economic and social pressures. The pandemic changed daily routines, and the cost of living crisis made healthier food harder to afford for many people.
Sarah Perman from the Association of Directors of Public Health supported this view. She said unhealthy food is now widely available and often cheaper than healthier options.
She added that people are regularly exposed to marketing that encourages high fat, high sugar, and high salt diets from an early age.
Research from the Food Foundation also shows a cost gap. Healthy food is often around twice as expensive per calorie compared with less healthy alternatives.
Why this matters
Health experts warn that rising obesity in younger adults could increase pressure on healthcare systems in the future. Early onset obesity often leads to longer exposure to related health risks over a lifetime.
