The following line graph illustrates how obesity levels have increased in England commencing from 1994. Clearly, figures have doubled over this period, reaching a current high of around 30 per cent for both male and female adults.
Now, turning to the details for the trend for women, it can be seen that a steady increase took place between 1994 and 1998, with obesity levels rising by 17 to 21 per cent, This was followed by a small period of stability. Then, after the year 2000, levels rose again, reaching a peak of 24 per cent in 2001. Since then, apart from a slight fluctuation, the percentage of obsese women in England has increased significantly.
Compared to women, obesity prevalence among men began at a lwoer level but experienced a sharper rise. In 1994, just under 15 per cent of men were classified as obese, around 4 percentage points lower than the female rate. However, this futre climbed sharply between 1998 and 2000. THe upward trent continued into the 2000s, overtaking the women’s rate in 2003. Since then, men’s obesity trent experienced significant yet steady increase, reaching the peak of 30 per cent in 2007.
Overall, while both sexes experienced a marked rise in obesity over the period, the rate of incease was more pronounced among men. Women consistently recorded higher figures in the early yars, but from the early 2000s onwards, men not only overtook them,but also maintained a slight lead until the end of the timeframe.