20-05-2025
Obesity surge sees Island's rates soar past Southampton and Hampshire
Obesity rates on the Isle of Wight have risen sharply, with alarming figures not just among adults but also among the Island's children, according to the latest public health data.
In 2023/24, 29.9 per cent of adults on the Isle of Wight were estimated to be living with obesity – a stark increase from 21.9 per cent the year before.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities have used Sport England's Active Lives Adult Survey to compile the data.
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This marks one of the biggest year-on-year rises in obesity across the South East, with the Island now surpassing neighbours like Southampton (24.9 per cent) and Hampshire overall (27 per cent), though still slightly behind Portsmouth (31.4 per cent).
However, the trend does not stop with adults.
According to the IW Council's October 2024 Healthy Lives report, childhood obesity is also on the rise:
23.8 per cent of children in reception (aged four – five) are overweight or obese, higher than the England average of 21.3 per cent.
By Year 6 (ages 10 – 11), this increases to 35.7 per cent, just below the national average of 36.6 per cent.
Overweight and obesity in children significantly raise the risk of chronic health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and poor mental health as they grow older.
The Island also reports that 60.4 per cent of adults are either overweight or obese, reinforcing the long-term nature of the issue.
The IW Council responded by commissioning a Tier 2 weight management service for adults, which targets men, ethnic minority groups, and those in deprived areas.
