A person stands on a weighing scale, overlooked by a doctor holding a tablet computer

Scale of the challenge: Obesity and the labour market

Article

Obesity has a well-known and profound impact on people’s health. Yet, less research has looked at the impact of obesity on prosperity.

Our findings suggest a correlation between obesity and economic inactivity, as well as obesity affecting the productivity and wellbeing of people who are in work.

Obesity is not a personal responsibility – it is caused by working conditions, changes in the built environment and our broken food system. Polling for this report shows the public are ahead of politicians: they want government intervention and a break from failed policies focused on individual responsibility.

Drawing from previous IPPR research, our core policy recommendation is based on developing a whole society approach to tackling obesity.

Related items

  1. Doctor with patient for consultation, medical advice or procedure at clinic

    Taken to heart: Inequalities in heart disease in Scotland

    More than 7.6 million people across the UK live with cardiovascular disease (CVD), around twice as many as live with Alzheimer’s disease and cancer combined. 
  2. An older man with a walking stick is sitting on a sofa having his temperature taken with a thermometer in his ear by a female nurse in uniform

    This time must be different: Overcoming barriers to social care reform

    Adult social care services across England are struggling to keep up with increased demand, let alone improve. But failure is not an option.
  3. Happy primary school kids, wearing school uniforms and backpacks, running on a walkway outside their school building

    Fixing the foundations: The case for investing in children's health

    For decades, governments of all stripes have promised to give children a better, healthier start to life. But despite this – and some notable policy successes – the UK continues to fall short on childhood health outcomes.