The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been urged to scrap benefits for obese people, with data showing it pays out £3,500 an hour on benefit payments for obesity. Some 3,908 individuals are on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because they are severely overweight.
Scale of obesity-related benefits
Obesity is widely acknowledged as a major public health issue, not just in the UK but globally. According to the 2022/23 health survey for England, 29% of adults were living with obesity, and 64% were either overweight or living with obesity. Obesity is recognised as a complex global health concern which increases the risk of many other health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, joint problems, mental health problems and some cancers.
DWP data shows 1,408 severely obese claimants qualify for the highest “enhanced” rate for daily living. A further 2,502 claimants receive the standard daily living rate. Some 2,761 qualify for the top-tier mobility payment and 1,282 people qualify for both enhanced pots.
Former Conservative leader calls for change
Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: “Much like ADHD, anxiety and depression, obesity is now a treatable condition. Giving out these pills would be cheaper for the NHS, taxpayers and better in the long run for the claimant too. Because it is treatable, it is not a life-long condition anymore… the medication is utterly cheaper.”
Labour government response
A Labour Party government spokesman said: “We’re fixing the broken system we inherited and have launched the Timms Review to make sure PIP is fit and fair for the future. We are tackling obesity by rolling out weight loss drugs to more patients, requiring large businesses to report on the healthiness of their food and setting new targets to improve the healthiness of products sold. The increase in the PIP caseload has slowed under this government, falling from 400,000 in the 12 months to July 2024, to 270,000 in the 12 months to April 2026.”
