Europe will face an obesity crisis of enormous proportions by 2030, according to the latest projections released by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe at this year’s European Congress on Obesity. In the UK, 63 per cent of women will be overweight in 2030, compared with 59 per cent in 2010; while 33 per cent are forecast to be obese in 2030, compared with 26 per cent in 2010.

For men, 73 per cent will be overweight, compared to 70 per cent in 2010; while 36 per cent will be obese compared to 26 per cent in 2010. “Our study presents a worrying picture of rising obesity across Europe,” says co-author Dr Joao Breda. “Policies to reverse this trend are urgently needed.”