Obesity in UK ‘costing more than war’

Obesity is a greater burden on the UK’s economy than armed violence, war and terrorism, costing the country nearly £47bn (€58bn) a year, a report has found.

The study, commissioned by consultancy firm McKinsey, revealed obesity has the second-largest economic impact on the UK behind smoking, generating an annual loss equivalent to 3% of GDP.

More than 2.1bn people around the world — or nearly 30% of the global population — are now overweight or obese, with the figure set to rise to almost half of the world’s adult population by 2030, according to the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), which carried out the report.

It has now called for a “co-ordinated response” from governments, retailers, restaurants and food and drink manufacturers.

A series of 44 interventions could bring 20% of overweight or obese people in the UK back to normal weight within five to 10 years, the report said.

This would save around £16bn a year in the UK, including an annual saving of about £766m in the NHS, according to the study.

The report said: “”Today obesity is jostling with armed conflict and smoking in terms of having the greatest human-generated global economic impact.”.

The report found the economic impact from smoking in the UK was £57bn in 2012, or 3.6% of GDP, while the country suffered a £43bn annual loss from armed violence, war and terrorism or 2.5% of GDP.