Number of people dying as a result of obesity doubles in 10 years

Britain is facing an “obesity time-bomb” with the number of middle-aged people dying as a result of being overweight more than doubling in less than a decade, official figures have disclosed.

More than 190 people aged under 65 died as a direct result of their obesity last year – compared to just 88 in 2000. Deaths among those aged between 46 and 55 almost tripled.

Obesity was a contributing factor in a further 757 deaths last year – compared to just 358 in 2000.

The official figures were released by ministers amid growing concern that obesity will soon present a bigger threat to public health than smoking.

Last night, Andrew Lansley, the shadow health secretary, urged the Government to increase their attempts to tackle the problem by increasing the warnings on fatty and unhealthy foods.

“Labour has neglected the UK’s obesity time-bomb and these figures demonstrate the awful consequences of their complacency,” he said.

“We urgently need action now, but unfortunately this Government’s record has been one of obesity targets missed and scrapped, budgets for information campaigns being raided, and dithering over food labelling. It is about time that the Labour Government woke up and started to take obesity seriously.”

The official figures disclose that in 2000, just 25 people aged between 46 and 55 died “where obesity was the underlying cause of death”. By 2005, the number has increased to 51 and last year it was 70.

The “number of deaths where obesity was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate” rose from 121 in 2000 to 257 last year for the same age group. Similar increases were also recorded for those aged between 34 and 45 and 56-65.

The figures are particularly alarming as they show that hundreds of younger people are dying because of a poor diet and lack of exercise.

Previous research found that “severe obesity” reduces life expectancy by about ten years. Therefore, most people dying today as a result of their weight could expect to have retired and be over 65.

The death rates are expected to increase sharply in the next few decades as today’s generation of overweight youngsters become middle-aged.

People who are overweight or obese face an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and osteo-arthritis. Obesity is also linked to several types of cancer.

Around half of British adults are overweight, and 17 per cent of men and 21 per cent of women are officially classed as obese. Britain has the highest obesity rates in Europe.