Frontier’s latest research for Health Innovation Manchester, examines the economic and societal impact of obesity in the Greater Manchester region. 

The key findings estimate that the costs of obesity in Greater Manchester in 2023 are £3.21 billion. These costs are broken down as follows: 

Obesity has increased steadily in recent years. Individuals living with obesity have an increased risk of developing other health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and some types of cancers. In turn, this will lead to higher costs to the NHS.  

In addition to the healthcare costs, individuals living with obesity are likely to have a greater need for social care services. This is both because of a  higher likelihood of developing long term conditions but also because obesity itself can sometimes affect the ability to function independently. More widely, obesity and  associated conditions can lead to reduced health-related quality of life for individuals, can affect those individuals’ ability to work, and can create a care burden for family or friends. 

Our report explores the following issues: 

• The annual costs to the NHS and social care sector associated with obesity. 

• The wider costs to individuals, the economy and society associated with obesity. 

• The variation of these costs across subpopulations.  

• The potential savings if rates of obesity were lower.  

Click here to read the full report: Costs of Obesity in Greater Manchester