Adult obesity and Year 6 severe obesity in the Greater West of England compared to other English regions

28 May 2026

This data insight describes obesity prevalence among adults aged 18 and over, and severe obesity prevalence among children in Year 6. It uses data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) Fingertips Public Health Profiles.

The adult obesity indicator is based on adjusted self-reported height and weight from Sport England’s Active Lives Adult Survey. The Year 6 severe obesity indicator is based on measured height and weight collected through the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP).

The analysis presents trends over time for adult obesity across English regions, and shows variation across local authority and district areas in the latest available year for both indicators.

The Greater West of England is defined here as Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire. Gloucestershire is included at both county and district level for local analysis. England is used as a national comparator.

24.8%

Adults with obesity in the South West, 2023/24

33.7%

Adults with obesity in Swindon, the highest among Greater West of England local authorities, 2023/24

4.3%

Year 6 children with severe obesity in the South West, 2024/25

5.5%

Year 6 children with severe obesity in Bristol, the highest among Greater West of England local authorities, 2024/25

Adult obesity prevalence across English regions, 2015/16 to 2023/24

This visualisation shows the prevalence of obesity among adults aged 18 and over in English regions between 2015/16 and 2023/24, expressed as a percentage of the total adult resident population.

In the South West, obesity prevalence increases from 21.3% in 2015/16 to 24.8% in 2023/24. In England, the rate increases from 22.6% to 26.5% over the same period.

In 2023/24, regional values range from 20.2% in London to 32.5% in the North East. The South West records 24.8%, Yorkshire and the Humber records 30.4%, the West Midlands 29.7% and the East Midlands 29.1%.

Across the period, the North East records the highest values among the regions shown, while London records the lowest values.

Adult obesity prevalence by local authority in the Greater West of England, 2023/24

This visualisation shows the prevalence of obesity among adults aged 18 and over in the Greater West of England’s local authority areas in 2023/24. When user’s click on ‘Gloucestershire’, data for the Gloucestershire districts are also given.

Obesity prevalence among adults in the South West is 24.8%, compared to 26.5% in England.

Across the local authority areas, values range from 17.9% in Bath and North East Somerset to 33.7% in Swindon. Wiltshire records 27.0%, South Gloucestershire 25.7%, Gloucestershire 24.9%, North Somerset 20.4% and Bristol 20.3%.

Within the Gloucestershire districts, values range from 19.3% in Cheltenham to 31.3% in Gloucester. Tewkesbury records 28.6%, Forest of Dean 25.9%, Stroud 22.3% and Cotswold 21.5%.

Year 6 severe obesity prevalence by local authority in the Greater West of England, 2024/25

This visualisation shows the prevalence of severe obesity among children in Year 6 in local authority areas within the Greater West of England in 2024/25. When users click on ‘Gloucestershire’, data for the Gloucestershire districts are given.

Severe obesity prevalence among children in the South West is 4.3%, compared to 5.6% in England.

Across the local authority areas, values range from 3.0% in Bath and North East Somerset to 5.5% in Bristol. Gloucestershire records 4.8%, Swindon 4.2%, Wiltshire 4.1%, South Gloucestershire 3.9% and North Somerset 3.6%.

Within the Gloucestershire districts, values range from 3.8% in Tewkesbury to 6.7% in Gloucester. Forest of Dean records 5.1%, Stroud 4.2%, Cotswold 3.9% and Cheltenham 3.9%.