Katie Musgrave
Sat, July 18, 2026 at 8:00 AM UTC
The UK’s obesity crisis has been a topic of debate and concern for decades. Almost to the point that we no longer hear it, or pay attention. But can we afford, as a nation, to be blasé about the issue?
A recent study by the University of York has laid bare the relation between obesity and unemployment, and warned of “substantial economic losses” because of Britain’s problem with excessive weight
The study found that the obese cohort – with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 – were 4.2 per cent less likely to be employed than the non-obese. Across the population, this equates to more than 600,000 people being out of work
While the current financial costs of obesity are concerning (the treatment of obesity-related conditions is thought to cost the NHS between £6.5bn and £11.4bn annually), the longer-term picture is more troubling still
Under the present trajectories, the economic burden of obesity is likely to spiral
Thirty-one years ago, approximately 15 per cent of 10-11 year olds in the UK were classified as obese. Today the figure is 22.2 per cent
There has been a significant shift in rates of childhood obesity over the past three or four decades, a condition which is known to persist into adulthood
The increase in rates of childhood obesity will be reflected in employment statistics over the coming decades, and will lead to wider costs to the economy in terms of health and social care
Studies demonstrate – and my experience as a GP would support this – that the healthcare costs of obesity significantly increase as people age
So a 25-year-old who is morbidly obese might get out of their house and be able to care for themselves, whereas a 60-year-old may become housebound, depending on the state or on relatives for care and support
Psychological compulsion
I have worked as a GP in a deprived inner-city practice as well as a more affluent rural community, and the difference in levels of independence between the elderly populations in these areas is stark
When people remain slim and active in older age, they are markedly more likely to be healthy and independent. For example, if I am consulting with a patient over the telephone, I will always check their latest BMI to gauge their likely level of mobility or wider health needs
Furthermore, increased rates of obesity are now also being accelerated by the growing prevalence of smartphone addiction, which is especially notable amongst younger people
Our casual exposure of babies, toddlers and primary-aged children to mobile devices is producing a generation with a psychological compulsion to use handheld devices
Just look on any train or bus. Even in cafes and restaurants, mobile phones are passed to children – a digital dummy to pacify them
Instead of moving around and playing outdoors, children increasingly spend time sitting inside mindlessly scrolling on a device. Parents hand very young children smartphones first thing in the morning, to secure themselves extra sleep
Studies consistently show that unhealthy patterns of device use increase sedentary behaviour and obesity
Britain is already seeing unprecedented rates of worklessness in young people because of mental health problems, with young adults in their early twenties now more likely to be out of work through illness than those in their forties
When these young adults – who are also more likely to be obese than the generation before – reach middle age, their physical health will catch up with them, increasing rates of unemployment and making health costs spiral even further
Whether weight-loss medication will provide a workable and sustainable solution remains unclear. In the meantime, the Government should be investing heavily in policies that encourage people to improve their diets and take more exercise
Getting children away from screens must be a top government priority. An inactive population, addicted to smartphones and eating terrible food, is never going to be economically productive – or content
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