Obesity admissions in Lincolnshire rise by nearly a fifth over the last year

There were tens of thousands of hospital admissions for patients with obesity in Lincolnshire last year, new figures show, as the number of admissions for obesity rose across England.

Campaign group Action on Sugar said it was evidence of “a growing public health challenge” and called for the Government to take action against unhealthy food advertising.

New NHS Digital figures show obesity was the primary or secondary cause of around 20,535 hospital admissions for patients in Lincolnshire in the 2023 financial year.

This was up from the year before, when there were around 17,400 admissions.

Nationally, admissions have increased 8% since last year, when there were 1.1 million recorded.

Earlier this month the Government confirmed it will introduce legislation to ban companies advertising products deemed high in fat, salt and sugar on TV before 9pm.

It will also include a total ban on paid-for online adverts for these products.

The ban, which was first proposed by Boris Johnson in 2021, will come into force in October 2025.

Dr Kawther Hashem, head of research and impact at Action on Sugar, said: “The rise in obesity and the unhealthy food environment we are surrounded with are key contributing factors which need to be urgently addressed by the Government.