The newly published Health Survey for England shows that 19 per cent of women aged 16 years and over screened positive for a possible eating disorder when questioned on their relationship with food, in 2019.
Around one in eight men (13%) also screened positive for a possible eating disorder in the same timeframe. For women, the prevalence was highest amongst those aged under 35 years (28% of those aged between 16 and 24 years and 27% of those aged between 25 and 34 years), before declining in line with age. For men, the prevalence was highest among those aged between 25 and 34 years (19%), before also declining in line with age.
The Health Survey for England monitors trends in the nation’s health and surveyed 8205 adults and 2095 children in 2019 about a variety of topics including carers, obesity, smoking and drinking.
In relation to weight, 68 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women were overweight or obese in 2019 compared with 58 per cent of men and 49 per cent of women in 1994, whereas 27 per cent of men and 29 per cent of women were obese in 2019 compared with 14 per cent of men and 17 per cent of women in 1994. Among children, 18 per cent of boys and 13 per cent of girls were obese compared with 11 per cent of boys and 12 per cent of girls in 1995.
The proportion of adults with doctor-diagnosed diabetes has trebled in the last 25 years, from 3 per cent of men and 2 per cent of women in 1994 to 9 per cent of men and 6 per cent of women in 2019.
The proportion of adults with raised total cholesterol has decreased in the last 21 years, from 66 per cent of men and 67 per cent of women in 1998 to 40 per cent of men and 45 per cent of women in 2019.
In relation to smoking, 18 per cent of men and 15 per cent of women reported that they currently smoke cigarettes. This compares to 28 per cent of men and 27 per cent of women in 1994.
