Economic and productivity costs of obesity and overweight in the UK

Summary

This report by Frontier Economics, a specialist economic consultancy, estimates the financial burden of obesity and overweight on the UK economy, encompassing both direct costs to the health system and indirect costs from reduced workforce productivity. Drawing on epidemiological prevalence data and economic modelling, it likely provides aggregate cost figures intended to inform policy debate around public health intervention. The report positions the economic case for action on diet-related ill health within a UK policy context.

UK applicability

The report is explicitly UK-focused and directly applicable to UK public health policy, NHS commissioning, and government strategies on obesity prevention. Its findings are likely relevant to debates around food environment regulation, dietary guidelines, and preventive healthcare investment in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Key measures

Economic cost estimates (£ billions); NHS/healthcare expenditure; productivity losses; prevalence of obesity and overweight (% of population); absenteeism and presenteeism costs

Outcomes reported

The report likely quantifies the direct healthcare costs and indirect productivity losses attributable to obesity and overweight in the UK, including estimates of absenteeism, presenteeism, and NHS expenditure. It may also project future economic burden under current or alternative policy trajectories.

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