overweight and obese
Councils are addressing rising rates of overweight and obese adults and developing public health initiatives.
Merton Council is addressing a significant rise in overweight and obese adults, with a report to its Health and Wellbeing Board in November 2025 showing an increase from 50.4% in 2020/21 to 61.2% in 2022/23. This means over 102,000 adult residents are not within a healthy weight range, prompting the council to focus on equitable services and support for those at higher risk.
Other councils are also discussing public health initiatives related to this condition, which is characterised by excessive body weight. Bromley's Health and Wellbeing Board reviewed updates on public health initiatives in June 2026, while Waltham Forest's Integrated Meeting of Health & Wellbeing and Health & Care Partnership Boards discussed similar initiatives in April 2026.
Key facts
- Merton's Health and Wellbeing Board received a report in November 2025 on the rise in overweight and obese adults. Source
- The percentage of overweight and obese adults in Merton increased from 50.4% in 2020/21 to 61.2% in 2022/23. Source
- Over 102,000 adult residents in Merton are not within a healthy weight range. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.