The number of people in the UK receiving disability benefits for obesity has risen by almost 60 percent since 2019, with new figures pointing to a steady post-pandemic increase in long-term health conditions linked to inactivity and poor diet.
Data obtained by digital healthcare provider ZAVA through a Freedom of Information request to the Department for Work and Pensions shows that as of July 2025, 4,413 people were receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for obesity, compared with 2,780 in January 2019. The total estimated monthly cost of those claims is £2.68 million.
Of the current claimants, nearly six in ten receive an enhanced mobility award, making them eligible for the Motability scheme. ZAVA said the upward trend suggests that obesity is becoming an increasingly recognised cause of disability, with wider implications for workplace health and productivity.
Obesity Claims Continue to Climb After Pandemic
Those receiving PIP for obesity increased by 11 percent in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 outbreak, and has continued to rise each year since. The figures mirror research from Public Health England, which found that over 40 percent of adults in England gained weight during the pandemic, with an average increase of just over four kilograms.
The disruption to daily routines, restrictions on movement and the psychological toll of lockdown have all been linked to reduced activity levels and unhealthy eating patterns. For many, those changes have had lasting effects on both physical and mental health, making weight management more difficult to sustain.
In 2023, a tribunal ruling confirmed that overeating can qualify for PIP if it is linked to a physical or mental health condition. Obesity now has one of the highest success rates for PIP claims at 78 percent, well above the average of 52 percent across all conditions.
Regional Inequality in Health and Support
The North West has the highest number of people receiving PIP for obesity, with 644 claims as of July 2025. The region also reports some of the poorest levels of physical activity, with nearly a quarter of adults classified as inactive in 2023–24.
London ranks second with 606 claimants, an 85 percent increase since 2019. In South East London, more than half of adults are living with excess weight. The West Midlands follows closely behind, with 528 people receiving PIP for obesity and a 120 percent rise in claims since 2020.
Experts say the regional variations reflect deep-rooted inequalities in public health, where access to healthy food, safe exercise spaces and preventative services differs widely across the country. These disparities are increasingly visible in workforce participation rates and productivity levels.
Welfare Shifts and Changing Definitions of Disability
While PIP claims linked to obesity are rising, the number of people receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for the same condition has fallen sharply. As of February 2025, only 800 people were still receiving ESA for obesity, down from 1,400 in 2020. This represents a 43 percent decrease, largely due to the government’s ongoing transition from legacy benefits to Universal Credit.
The decline in ESA claims may also indicate a shift in how long-term obesity-related conditions are being recognised, with PIP increasingly used to support those whose mobility or daily living is significantly affected.
Obesity ‘Linked To Unemployment and Poorer Outcomes’
Crystal Wyllie, a doctor at ZAVA, said obesity remains a widespread health crisis with serious implications for employment and the economy.
“Obesity is an epidemic across the world, but within the UK, we can see a natural link to unemployment, with 4,413 UK residents claiming PIP for obesity,” she said. “A recent Gallup poll demonstrated that the longer an individual is unemployed, the higher the rates of obesity, reaching up to 32.7 percent after one year of unemployment.”
She said that tackling obesity requires leadership and systemic change. “Tackling obesity from the top down is key here with changes to policies, healthcare initiatives, and food regulation across the nation. The recent restrictions on multibuy deals for unhealthy foods that came into effect on 1st October are expected to deliver health benefits of £2 billion and NHS savings of £180 million over 25 years – a change welcomed by healthcare professionals.”
Workplace and Wellbeing Implications
Observers say the data highlights a growing need for employers to prioritise healthy living initiatives and accessible wellbeing support. Obesity contributes to reduced energy levels, higher absence rates and greater risk of long-term illness, which together impact productivity and workforce participation.
Public health experts have long argued that employers can play a key role in reversing these trends by offering preventive measures such as subsidised fitness programmes, access to nutritional advice and regular health checks. Promoting flexible working and encouraging active commuting can also help employees maintain healthier routines.
The rising number of PIP claims points to the consequences of neglecting prevention, with long-term health conditions now recognised as barriers to work for thousands of people. Addressing these challenges, experts say, will require both national policy and organisational change that treat obesity as a complex wellbeing issue, not just a lifestyle choice.
As the number of people living with obesity grows, the message from healthcare professionals and wellbeing leaders is clear: supporting healthy habits at work is not only about individual health but about sustaining the nation’s ability to work and thrive.