Why are Londoners obese?

Since emphasis on healthy eating and living has increased throughout the 21st century, the topic of obesity has remained a constant feature on the news agenda.

According to recent government figures, London has the lowest rates of obese adults on a national level, yet some boroughs of London have up to 32% of their inhabitants who are considered as obese.

So why is obesity an issue in London?

One reason suggests that disposable income is a factor. Boroughs with higher disposable incomes are likely to have lower obesity levels amongst the adult population.

The top ten London boroughs with the lowest rates of adult obesity, between 11% and 16%, were also in the higher tier of disposable income, ranging from >£23,000 - >£50,000 (GDHI per head) (according to data from the Office of National Statistics (2016)).

The City of London, Kensington and Chelsea and Richmond upon Thames had the lowest levels of adult obesity (according to data from Public Health England (2017)). All three of those boroughs have over £31,000 (GDHI per head).

By having these mapped charts side by side it is easy to compare and see not only the correlation of the highest disposable income areas and obesity levels but also the correlation of the lowest income areas.

According to the 2017 Public Health England figures, Bexley, Greenwich and Barking and Dagenham had the highest obesity levels in London. All three of these boroughs had under £23,000 (GHDI per head).

But what does disposable income have to do with obesity?

Residents with more GDHI can purchase more exercise treatments and equipment,  they can also afford to have medical treatment such as Liposuction to get to a normal weight. Disposable income and obesity do overlap in one particular area: food.

One argument could suggest that London residents with more disposable income can afford healthier food, which is not only supposed to counter the chances of obesity and is supposed to have a heftier price tag compared to their unhealthy alternatives.

However, figures from the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) study prove that this is not accurate.

Source: IEA (This is not all the data that the IEA report provides, for the full dataset of prices of unhealthy and healthy foods in both supermarkets, go here: https://public.tableau.com/profile/helin.tezcanli#!/vizhome/Priceofunhealthyandhealthyfoodsintwosupermarkets2017/Sheet1?publish=yes

The report showed that two out of the top five most expensive food products (for two UK supermarkets that were being compared) were unhealthy foods such as mature cheese and bacon.

The cheapest five food products, again for both supermarkets, were all healthy foods such as carrots, potatoes and pasta (spaghetti).

On a global scale, the rates of obesity are increasing, and London is not immune from this rise. However, by recognising the correlation and perhaps subsequent causation between disposable income and obesity as well as higher prices of unhealthy food and obesity, London boroughs can see how big the issue of obesity is.