The number of people who are above a healthy weight (overweight or obese) across the world is rising every single year. MEND wants to help to reverse that trend.

A global epidemic

• There are 1 billion overweight and obese people in the world. 155 million of them are children.

• Obesity levels have quadrupled over the last 25 years, according to the World Health Organisation.

What about the UK specifically?

• In the UK, obesity levels have trebled since the 1980s.

• It is estimated that over half of all UK adults are above a healthy weight – that’s approximately 24 million adults.

• In 2006, only two-thirds of boys and half of girls did the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

• Data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey in 2008/2009 showed that only a third of adults were meeting the government target of 5-a-day for fruit and vegetables.

What happens if we do nothing?
The Foresight Report (2007) said that unless we do something now to help people live healthier lives, by 2050:

• treatment for people who are above a healthy weight will cost the UK economy £50 billion a year
• two-thirds of children in the UK will be above a healthy weight.