Obesity is rising fastest among young adults in England, with recent analysis suggesting that inequalities in weight gain have widened since the covid pandemic, according to a BMJ report published on 9 July 2026.
The report said the findings were based on electronic health records from more than 54 million adults in England, covering the period from 2019 to 2025. It noted that the sharpest increases were seen in younger adults and in more disadvantaged groups, raising fresh concern about the long-term impact on public health and NHS services. ([bmj.com](https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100160?utm_source=openai))
Why the findings matter for the NHS
The BMJ said the government is increasingly looking to weight-loss medicines such as GLP-1 drugs as part of its response to obesity. But the study authors warned that relying only on lifelong drug therapies would be unlikely to be enough, or sustainable, in tackling what they described as an obesity crisis. ([bmj.com](https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100160?utm_source=openai))
The concern is not only the number of people affected, but also the widening gap between population groups. That pattern suggests that broader prevention strategies, including lifestyle and public health measures, may still be needed alongside treatment options. This is an inference from the report’s emphasis on rising inequality and its warning against dependence on drug therapy alone. ([bmj.com](https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100160?utm_source=openai))
Broader pressure on health services
The report also comes at a time when obesity-related care is already a major issue for the health service. With demand growing across primary and secondary care, the BMJ’s findings add to debate over how the NHS should balance medicines, prevention and early intervention. ([bmj.com](https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100160?utm_source=openai))
For health leaders, the key question is whether current policy will do enough to slow the rise in obesity among younger adults, or whether more structural action will be needed to address the social and economic drivers behind the trend. The BMJ article does not set out a single solution, but it clearly frames the issue as a widening public health challenge rather than an isolated clinical one. ([bmj.com](https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100160?utm_source=openai))
As the debate continues, the new analysis serves as a reminder that obesity is not moving evenly through the population. Instead, it is concentrating where disadvantage is already greatest, a pattern that could deepen future health inequalities if left unchecked. ([bmj.com](https://www.bmj.com/content/394/bmj-2026-100160?utm_source=openai))
