Publication, Part of Health Survey for England
Health Survey for England, 2021 part 1
Official statistics, National statistics, Survey, Accredited official statistics
Chart updates due to rounding issue
Several charts in this publication have been corrected. Previously, some charts incorrectly displayed figures rounded down to the nearest whole number. (e.g. 11.6 would be displayed as 11, instead of being rounded up to 12).
Charts updated due to this issue:
• E-cigarette use, by cigarette smoking status
• Frequency of drinking in the last 12 months, by age and sex
• Estimated weekly alcohol consumption, by household income and sex
• Estimated weekly alcohol consumption, by area deprivation and sex
• Alcohol consumption in the last week
• Overweight and obesity, by area deprivation and sex
Figures in the key findings, report text and data tables were correct.
29 October 2024 13:40 PM
Part 3: Overweight, obesity and health
Doctor-diagnosed diabetes, by BMI status and sex
Diabetes is characterised by high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia). Untreated hyperglycaemia is associated with damage and possible failure of many organs, especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels. Diabetes substantially increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and tends to worsen the effect of other risk factors for CVD, such as abnormal levels of blood fats, raised blood pressure, smoking and obesity (Garcia et al, 1974). Being overweight is a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes (Source: Diabetes UK).
Doctor-diagnosed diabetes was measured by asking participants
• Do you now have or have you ever had diabetes?
• [If yes] Were you told by a doctor that you had diabetes?
After controlling for age, the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed diabetes increased with BMI group, from 3% of those who were not overweight nor obese, to 5% of overweight and 11% of obese adults. The pattern of association between diagnosed diabetes and BMI status was similar for men and women.
For more information: Table 4.
Longstanding illness, by BMI status
Longstanding illness refers to illnesses or conditions lasting or expected to last 12 months or more. Limiting longstanding illness consists of longstanding conditions that reduce an individual’s ability to carry out day-to-day activities.
Longstanding illness is a valuable indicator of the health of the population, and is also an important indicator of inequalities, with strong links between poverty, social class and self-assessed longstanding illness. The questions on longstanding illness explicitly ask about physical and mental health; and separate the concept of disability from illnesses or health conditions.
After controlling for age, the prevalence of longstanding illness was similar for those who were not overweight nor obese (36%) and those who were overweight but not obese (35%). It was higher among those classified as obese (51%).
The proportions who reported a limiting longstanding illness were also higher for obese adults than for other groups; 35%, compared with 20% of those who were not overweight nor obese and 21% of overweight adults.
For more information: Table 5.
Last edited: 29 October 2024 1:44 pm