More than 42m UK adults ‘will be overweight by 2040’

Poorest predicted to be hit hardest by obesity crisis as government accused of kicking the can down the road'

More than 42 million adults in the UK will be overweight or obese by 2040 and at higher risk of 13 types of cancer, an alarming" report reveals, as health leaders accused ministers of kicking the can down the road" when it comes to tackling the obesity crisis.

Data collected by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) shows that 71% of people will be overweight by 2040, a rise from 64% today. Of these, almost 36% of adults - 21 million people - will be obese. The charity described the figures as staggering".