Ages 0 - 19 - 31.2%

Ages 20 - 39 - 29.8%

Ages 40 - 59 - 25.2%

Ages 60 - 79 - 11.2%

Asian - 63%

Black/African/ Caribbean - 18.3%

Mixed/ Multiple ethnicity - 3.4%

White - 8.8%

Other ethnic groups - 6.5%

BMI stands for body mass index. It is a classification of one’s body weight in proportion to their height; it helps estimate the body fat of an individual. Based on their BMI number, they will be categorised as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. The larger the number, the higher the estimate of body fat will be.

Obese is the term given to people whose BMI value is over 30 kg/m². It is the result of an accumulation of excess fat in the body. The reason obesity is harmful is because it can affect many dimensions of life. An example of the impact of obesity on physical health is its effect on the heart. The heart needs to pump blood to the entire body, including the excess fat that is stored. This means the heart must beat more frequently than it normally should, which increases the risk of heart failure.

Obesity is an issue across the whole of England; however, it is more prevalent in deprived areas such as Handsworth, where the number of people classed as obese ranges from 65.2% to 69.7%.

Diet plays a large factor in why the number of obesity cases is relatively high. A possible cause of this is the abundance of cheap, convenient, and easy-to-access fast food, which makes it difficult for people with low incomes to acquire a healthy, balanced diet and puts them at risk of multiple cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, as well as medical emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes. Genetics also play an important role. Genes can affect the rate at which an individual metabolises their food and how fat is distributed around the body.

West locality profile 2022 | Birmingham City Council

The effects of fast food on your body and health | Spire Healthcare

Obesity - Causes - NHS (www.nhs.uk)