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 4: Trends
Height and weight
The tables accompanying this report present trends in mean height and mean weight by age and sex from 1993 onwards. Mean (average) values of height and weight between 1993 and 2019 were calculated using interviewer-measured values; values for 2021 were calculated using a set of correction factors that adjust self-reported height and weight to predict measured height and weight more accurately.
In 2021, the mean heights of men and women based on adjustments to self-reported height were 175.9cm and 162.4cm, respectively.
Findings from this survey are not directly comparable with previous HSE survey years (see the Methods report for more information). Between 1993 and 2019, mean height increased by slightly more than 1cm among men, and by half that much among women. In 2019, the mean heights of men and women based on measured values were 175.5cm and 161.7cm, respectively.
For more information: Table 6.
In 2021, the mean weights of men and women based on adjustments to self-reported weight were 85.1kg and 71.8kg, respectively.
Based on measured values, mean weight between 1993 and 2019 increased from 78.9kg to 85.4kg among men, and from 66.6kg to 72.1kg among women.
For more information: Table 7.
Overweight and obesity
The tables accompanying this report present trends in adults’ overweight and obesity by age and sex from 1993 onwards. Prevalence estimates between 1993 and 2019 were calculated using BMI from measured height and weight. Estimates for 2021 were calculated using BMI from adjustments to self-reported height and weight.
In 2021, according to BMI calculated from adjustments to self-reported height and weight, 69% of men and 59% of women were either overweight or obese and 25% of men and 26% of women were obese.
Findings from this survey are not directly comparable with previous HSE survey years (see the Methods report for more information).
Overweight including obesity increased from 58% of men and 49% of women in 1993 to 68% of men and 60% of women in 2019. Obesity prevalence increased from 13% of men and 16% of women in 1993, to 27% of men and 29% of women in 2019. These increases occurred largely between 1993 and 2001, and since that time have been more gradual.
For more information: Table 8.
Last edited: 29 October 2024 1:44 pm