Cost of people being overweight in UK now £98bn, study finds

Estimate includes £63bn cost to people affected, £19bn cost to NHS and £15bn cost to society

Britain’s weight problem costs almost £100bn a year, analysis suggests, prompting calls for a government crackdown on unhealthy food and a drive to promote fresh ingredients.

The spiralling cost shows that the growing prevalence of people being overweight is “an absolute public health disaster”, said Henry Dimbleby, the government’s former adviser on food.