Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that the percentage of overweight and obese adults in Manchester was at the lowest ever in 2021.
In 2021, Manchester had the lowest percentage of overweight and obese adults with 59.92% – which is the lowest ever percentage recorded.
Despite a peak of 64.16% in 2017, Manchester’s obese and overweight adult population is on the decline and has remained under the national average since 2018.
From 2020 to 2021, the data found there was a decrease of 1.57% points in Manchester’s overweight and obese adult population.
However, the trend for Greater Manchester shows an increase over the years, which is a higher increase than the national average.
By 2021, the national average percentage of overweight and obese people in England was 63.81%.
In the same year, Greater Manchester had an average percentage of 65.84%, which is 2.03% points higher than the national average and 5.92% points higher than Manchester.
An overall average of each borough’s overweight and obese population from 2015 to 2021 reveals that Wigan has the highest average of overweight and obese adults with 69.95%.
Laura Wharton, Wigan Council’s assistant director for public health, said: “Supporting residents to lead more healthy and active lifestyles is one of our major public health priorities.
“Our Be Well health and wellbeing movement is working at the heart of our neighbourhoods to promote the physical and mental health benefits of activity, to better inform more and more people about nutrition, and to empower and encourage local individuals and families to make positive lifestyle choices.”
The second highest was Tameside with 68.03%, followed by Oldham with 67.58%.
Trafford had the lowest average percentage, with 59.13% of overweight and obese people in the area.
The Greater Manchester borough with the highest percentage of obese and overweight adults in 2021 was Oldham with 71.85%, followed by Wigan with 71.31% and Tameside with 69.16%.
At the other end of the scale, the Greater Manchester boroughs which follow Manchester having the lowest percentage of overweight and obese adults were Trafford with 61.72% and Bury with 64.90%.
Ms Wharton added: “The obesity health crisis is not one that can be tackled in isolation; it is a complex area with many strands and is not just about focusing on unhealthy food choice and low levels of activity.
“As well as providing support for those who are overweight or living with obesity to achieve a healthy weight, we are therefore taking a proactive and preventative approach that aims to make a long-term positive impact across our communities – including everything from parks and leisure facilities, licensing and food outlets to transport and the built environment.”
This data is based on results using the body mass index (BMI) calculator.
The BMI calculator is widely used by health professionals across the UK to calculate if a person is healthy for their height.
For most adults, having a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered to be a healthy weight.
The NHS defines if a person’s BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered to be overweight, and a BMI over 30 is considered to be obese.
