One in four UK adults is obese and more likely to develop a health condition such as type-2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disease and even contribute to mental health issues, during their lifetime.
With the nationwide obesity epidemic expected to cost the NHS £9.7billion by 2050, what is stopping Brits from losing weight?
To find out the biggest barriers, we surveyed 2,000 members of the general public.
Here are the most common reasons people can’t lose weight:
- ‘Constant cravings’ (23%)
- 'Mental health or motivation’ (20%)
- ‘Cost of healthy eating or exercise’ (18%)
- ‘Social life and eating out’ (14.55%)
- ‘Hormonal/medical issues’ (12.25%)
- ‘Partner/family eating habits’ (10.90%)
- ‘Too many fad diets/conflicting information’ (9.10%)
- ‘Work snacks and vending machines’ (8.90%)
- ‘Lack of time to cook’ (8.20%)
- ‘Lack of professional support or guidance (7.85%)
Barriers to weight loss by age
Below are the top cited challenges to weight loss by each age group:
- 16-24 – ‘Mental health or motivation’ (27%)
- 25-34 – ‘Constant cravings’ (24%)
- 35-44 – ‘Mental health or motivation’ (25%)
- 45-54 – ‘Constant cravings’ (23%)
- 55+ - ‘Constant cravings’ (16%)
Why can’t I lose weight? Men vs Women
| # | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Constant cravings (18%) | Constant cravings (27%) |
| 2 | Mental health/ motivation (17%) | Mental health/motivation (24%) |
| 3 | Cost of healthy eating/exercise (16%) | Cost of healthy eating/exercise (21%) |
| 4 | Social life and eating out (16%) | Hormonal/medical issues (17%) |
| 5 | Too many fad diets/conflicting information (11%) | Social life and eating out (14%) |
| 6 | Work snacks and vending machines (11%) | Partner/family eating habits (12%) |
| 7 | Lack of professional support or guidance (10%) | Lack of time to cook (8%) |
| 8 | Partner/family eating habits (9%) | Too many fad diets/conflicting information (7%) |
| 9 | Lack of time to cook (8%) | Work snacks and vending machines (7%) |
| 10 | Hormonal/medical issues (7%) | Lack of professional support or guidance (6%) |
Weight loss challenges by UK city
Below are the biggest barriers for each area:
- Belfast – ‘Cost of healthy eating or exercise’ (28%)
- Birmingham – ‘Mental health or motivation’ (24%)
- Brighton – ‘Mental health or motivation’ (21%)
- Bristol – ‘Constant cravings’ (27%)
- Cardiff – ‘Constant cravings’ (31%)
- Edinburgh – ‘Constant cravings’ (27%)
- Glasgow – ‘Mental health or motivation’ (20%)
- Leeds – ‘Constant cravings’ (22%)
- Liverpool – ‘Constant cravings’ (22%)
- London – ‘Constant cravings’ (22%)
- Manchester – ‘Mental health or motivation’ (22%)
- Newcastle – ‘Constant cravings' (27%)
- Norwich – ‘Constant cravings’ (30%)
- Nottingham – ‘Mental health or motivation’ (25%)
- Plymouth – ‘Constant cravings’ (25%)
- Sheffield – ‘Mental health or motivation’ (30%)
- Southampton – ‘Mental health or motivation’ (26%)
Occupations with the worst workplace snacking habits
Here are the jobs most likely to blame work snacks and vending machines for problems losing weight:
- Estate/letting agents (38%)
- Broadcasters (33%)
- Firefighters (33%)
- Taxi/lorry driver (27%)
- Plumber (25%)
Struggling with your weight loss?
Our study revealed that some of the key challenges to weight loss across all age groups, genders and UK cities were constant cravings and mental health or motivation.
Weight loss medication is proven to help you avoid cravings and continue on your journey.
For more information, contact one of our qualified doctors for a consultation.