The number of obese patients receiving hospital treatment has quadrupled in a decade, new figures show.
Official data reveals that almost 1.9 million obese people received hospital treatment in 2023-24, up from 442,083 a decade ago.
This includes 14,010 children and adolescents under the age of 18, almost three times more than the 4,655 in 2013-14.
The figures, from NHS England, cover all patients with a diagnosis of obesity, meaning their excess weight was considered to have aggravated their health problem.
And they include 11,221 cases in which obesity was the main reason for hospital treatment.
Obesity can cause many health problems, such as heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and osteoarthritis.
Experts said the figures, published in the Telegraph, were a “tragic” reflection of the failure of successive governments to tackle Britain’s obesity epidemic.
Official data reveals that almost 1.9 million obese people received hospital treatment in 2023-24, up from 442,083 a decade ago.
The number of obese patients receiving hospital treatment has quadrupled in a decade, new figures show
Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said the hospital figures were “a stark reminder of the growing impact of unhealthy weight on our nation’s health.”
“Behind these numbers are preventable cases of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and joint problems, which prevent many of us from enjoying a longer and healthier life,” he said.
Earlier this month it emerged that millions of people in the UK will be denied the ‘King Kong’ of weight loss jabs and instead directed to a free NHS app.
Fewer than one in 10 patients who meet the criteria for Mounjaro will be prescribed on the NHS over the next three years, the medicines regulator has confirmed.
In a blow to Labour’s health plans, NICE said only 220,000 of the 3.4 million eligible patients will receive the drug as part of the initial rollout.
The vaccine earned a reputation as the most effective in clinical trials, which showed patients typically lost more than 20 percent of their body weight.
It works by reducing food cravings and makes the stomach empty more slowly.
14,010 obese children and adolescents under 18, almost triple the 4,655 in 2013-14, received hospital treatment last year.
Health officials admit that “many will have to wait” or look for alternative ways to lose weight to prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed by huge demand.
The unprecedented move to stagger Mounjaro’s deployment was necessary “to protect other vital NHS services”, they added.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Obesity can be debilitating, costing the NHS billions and depriving children of the best possible start in life, setting them up for a lifetime of health problems.”
‘This Government is committed to tackling the obesity crisis head-on, shifting our focus from treatment to prevention as part of our Ten-Year Health Plan.
‘We have already announced plans to ban junk food adverts on TV and online. We have also given local authorities stronger powers to block requests for unhealthy takeaways near schools and stop fast food giants targeting pupils.’