UK’s obesity and overweight epidemic costs £126bn a year, study suggests

Experts have urged the government to extend the sugar tax, restrict the advertising of unhealthy food and put more money into weight-loss drugs. Photograph: Science Photo Library/Alamy

The cost of the UK’s epidemic of overweight and obesity has soared to £126bn a year, far higher than previous estimates, according to a study.

The bill includes the costs of NHS care (£12.6bn), the years people spend in poor health because of their weight (£71.4bn) and the damage to the economy (£31bn).