Diet, lifestyle and weight statistics

This section has up-to-date statistics on diet, lifestyle and weight. It especially focuses on the areas covered by WCRF UK Recommendations.

• Increasing rates of obesity in England
• Achieving physical activity recommendations
• Diets of children in Scotland contain too much sugar
• 5 A DAY consumption in England
• Processed meat consumption
• Exceeding government guidelines on alcohol
• Reduction in average salt intake
• A third of adults are taking vitamin and mineral supplements
• A quarter of mothers breastfeed their child for at least six months

Increasing rates of obesity in England

In England in 2007, 37 per cent of adults were overweight (BMI 25 and over) and a further 24 per cent were obese (BMI 30 and over). Overall about 6 out of 10 adults were either overweight or obese. Fourteen per cent of children were overweight and 19 per cent were obese in 2007. Overall about 3 out of 10 children were either overweight or obese.

Forty-one per cent of women and 33 per cent of men had a waist circumference above the healthy range (above 31.5"/80cm for women and above 37"/94cm for men). The figures below show the per cent of overweight (including obesity) by gender.

The proportion of adults with a healthy body weight has decreased between 1993 and 2007 from 41 to 34 per cent in men and from 49 to 42 per cent among women. There has been a big increase in the proportion of the population who are obese. It rose from 13 to 24 per cent in men and from 16 to 24 per cent in women between 1993 and 2007.

Waist circumference has also increased. The per cent with a waist circumference above the healthy range rose from 20 to 33 per cent for men and from 26 to 41 per cent for women between 1993 and 2007.

The proportion of children who were overweight or obese in 1995 was 25 per cent, it has now increased to 30 per cent. The biggest increase is in the proportion who are obese. This rose from 11 to 17 percent for boys and from 12 to 16 per cent for girls.

The Foresight Report estimates that rates of obesity will rise even further to 36 per cent in men and 28 per cent in women in 2015 and 47 per cent and 36 per cent respectively by 2025.

Data from Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, 2009 and Foresight Tackling Obesities: Future Choices 2nd Edition – Modelling Future Trends in Obesity & Their Impact on Health. Foresight, Government Office for Science, 2007

• WCRF UK’s Recommendation: Be as lean as possible without becoming overweight
• Find out more about weight management for cancer prevention
• Order our Staying Lean for Cancer Prevention booklet

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Achieving physical activity recommendations

Current government physical activity recommendations for adults are that they should achieve a total of at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on five or more days a week. For children the recommendation is that they achieve a total of at least 60 minutes of moderate activity each day. Moderate activity can be achieved through walking, cycling, gardening and housework, as well as various sports and exercise.

The figures below show the proportion of men, women and children achieving the physical activity recommendations.

In 2007 37% of people reported taking walks of at least 20 minutes three or more times a week. However 24% reported taking walks of at least 20 minutes less than once a year or never. Adults aged 16 to 64 years were asked if they were aware of current guidelines for physical activity. About one third (32%) were not aware of a recommendation for physical activity, 40% had heard of a recommendation but did not know what it was and 28% reported they knew the recommendation for physical activity. The two most important barriers to being more physically active were ‘work commitments’ and ‘don’t have enough leisure time’.

Of children who met the current guidelines (60 minutes a day) more than 90% considered themselves very or fairly physically active. However about two thirds of children with a low level of physical activity (less than 30 minutes a day) also considered themselves very or fairly active. The top activities children would like to do more of were ball sports and swimming.

Data from Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, 2009

• WCRF UK’s Recommendation: be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day
• Order our Moving More for Cancer Prevention booklet

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 Diets of children in Scotland contain too much sugar

A Food Standards Agency Scotland survey of sugar intake among children in Scotland has found that 17 per cent of total calories currently consumed by children comes from sugar. The Scottish Dietary Target is ten per cent.

The main sources of sugar were soft drinks, confectionery, biscuits and cakes. Initiatives to reduce the amount of sugar in children’s diet could also make a contribution to the prevention of overweight and obesity, and therefore cancer risk, by reducing total calorie consumption.

• WCRF UK’s Recommendation: Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (particularly processed foods high in added sugar, or low in fibre, or high in fat)

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5 A DAY consumption in England

The figures below show that the proportion of people consuming five or more portions of fruits and vegetables has increased between 2001 and 2007.

In 2007 more women (31 per cent) than men (27 per cent) consumed five or more portions a day. People in the age group 16 to 24 years were least likely and people aged 55 to 64 years were the most likely to eat five or more portions a day. More women (78 per cent) than men (62 per cent) correctly stated that five portions of vegetables and fruits should be consumed each day.

In 2007 the average number of portions of vegetables and fruits consumed a day was 3.6 for men and 3.9 for women.

In 2007 around a fifth of children aged five to 15 consumed five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day. More girls (73 per cent) than boys (63 per cent) correctly stated that the five portions of vegetables and fruits should be consumed each day.

Data from the Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, 2009

Vegetables and fruits are the building blocks of a healthy diet and we should be eating at least five portions a day. They are high in vitamins and minerals, are a good source of fibre and can reduce cancer risk, as well as the risk of other chronic diseases.

• WCRF UK’s Recommendation: Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, and pulses such as beans
• Check which fruits and vegetables are in season

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Processed meat consumption

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey provided detailed information on the dietary habits of adults in 2002. The survey reported that 77 per cent of men and 64 per cent of women consumed ham and/or bacon over a seven-day recording period. Average weekly intakes were 177g for men and 118g for women.

Processed meats are preserved by smoking, curing or salting, or by the addition of preservatives. Bacon and ham are both examples of processed meats. Consumption of these products increases the risk of developing bowel cancer.

• WCRF UK’s Recommendation: Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats
• Order our Red and Processed Meat: finding the balance for cancer prevention leaflet

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Exceeding government guidelines on alcohol

The Department of Health recommends not drinking more than 21 units a week for men and 14 units a week for women.

Among men in England in 2007, 31 per cent reported drinking more than 21 units in an average week

For women, 20 per cent reported drinking more than 14 units in an average week

Older people were more likely to drink regularly – 28 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women aged 65 years and over drank on five or more days in the week prior to interview compared to 9 per cent of men and 3 per cent of women aged 16 to 24 years

In Great Britain in 2007, 69 per cent of people reported that they had heard of the government guidelines on alcohol consumption. Of these people, 40 per cent said that they did not know what the recommendations were

Data from the NHS Statistics on alcohol, England 2008

• WCRF UK’s Recommendation: If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and 1 for women a day  As a rough guide, a drink contains about 10-15g of pure alcohol or the equivalent of a small glass of wine or half a pint of beer
• How much is a drink?

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Reduction in average salt intake

Research carried out for the Food Standards Agency has shown that salt intakes in the UK adult population have reduced from 9.5g to 8.6g per day between 2000/1 and 2006/7. The target for adults is to reduce average salt intake to 6g per day by 2010.

Since 2003 the Food Standards Agency and Department of Health have been working with the food industry to reduce levels of salt in foods. The work has concentrated on processed foods as these contribute about 75 per cent of people’s salt intake.

Data from the 2008 Food Standards Agency dietary sodium levels surveys

• WCRF UK’s Recommendation: Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium)

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A third of adults are taking vitamin and mineral supplements

In 2008 a survey conducted for the Food Standards Agency found that 31 per cent of adults said they were currently taking vitamin and mineral supplements. The main reason for taking supplements was for general health and wellbeing. Of those who took supplements in the last year, 38 per cent said they had taken a high strength supplement. Some high-dose supplements may increase the risk of some cancers.

Data from the FSA survey on consumer consumption of vitamin and mineral food supplements

• WCRF UK’s Recommendation: Don’t use supplements to protect against cancer
• Order our A closer look at: dietary supplements leaflet

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A quarter of mothers breastfeed their child for at least six months

Initial breastfeeding rates in 2005 were 78 per cent in England, 70 per cent in Scotland, 67 per cent in Wales, and 63 per cent in Northern Ireland.

However, the proportion of women still breastfeeding at six weeks and six months is much lower (see figures below). Virtually no mothers were exclusively breastfeeding at six months.

An infant is exclusively breastfed if they receive only breast milk, but no other liquids or solids except for medicine, vitamins or mineral supplements.

Data from the NHS Infant feeding survey, 2005

• WCRF UK’s Recommendation: It is best for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for up to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods. The World Health Organization also supports this recommendation
• Order our Breast Awareness Shower card
• Order our Reducing Your Risk of Breast Cancer

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