PIP claims for obesity have surged by almost 60 per cent since 2019, costing taxpayers a total of £144 million, new DWP figures reveal.
More than 4,400 people are now receiving the disability benefit for obesity, prompting fresh questions over the financial sustainability of the welfare system and the Government’s approach to public health.
Freedom of Information figures obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions reveal that 5,213 individuals now receive welfare payments due to obesity-related conditions.
The number of people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for obesity has surged by 59 per cent since January 2019, rising from 2,780 to 4,413 by July 2025.
An additional 800 individuals receive Employment and Support Allowance for the same condition.
Monthly PIP payments for obesity-related claims currently total an estimated £2.68million, with claimants meeting criteria for difficulties with daily living or mobility.
The North West region has emerged as the area with the highest number of obesity-related PIP claimants, recording 644 cases as of July 2025. London follows with 606 claimants, having experienced an 85 per cent increase from 326 cases in 2019.
The West Midlands ranks third with 528 recipients, though this region witnessed the steepest percentage growth between 2020 and 2025, jumping by 119.8 per cent from 217 to 477 claims.
Monthly PIP payments for obesity-related claims currently total an estimated £2.68million
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GETTYThese regional disparities reflect broader health patterns, with 67.1 per cent of West Midlands residents classified as overweight or obese during 2023-24.
In the North West, nearly a quarter of adults were physically inactive in 2023-24, exceeding the England average by two percentage points.
The pandemic appears to have accelerated the trend, with claims rising by 11 per cent during 2020 when lockdown restrictions limited exercise opportunities.
A Public Health England survey found that more than 40 per cent of English adults gained weight during this period, averaging 4.1kg.
More than half of UK residents with obesity report their health negatively affects their work performance
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GETTYA 2023 tribunal ruling established that overeating could qualify for PIP points when connected to physical or mental health conditions.
This decision may partly explain why obesity-related claims achieve a 78 per cent success rate, significantly above the 52 per cent average for all PIP applications.
The steady year-on-year increases since the pandemic suggest the trend shows no signs of reversing.
The broader economic impact extends beyond benefit payments, with obesity placing a £6.5billion annual burden on the NHS.
The pandemic appears to have accelerated the trend, with claims rising by 11 per cent during 2020 when lockdown restrictions limited exercise opportunities
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GETTYMore than half of UK residents with obesity report their health negatively affects their work performance, with higher BMI correlating with increased unemployment and sick leave.
Dr Crystal Wyllie from ZAVA highlighted the connection between joblessness and weight gain: “A recent Gallup poll demonstrated that the longer an individual is unemployed, the higher the rates of obesity, reaching up to 32.7 per cent after one year of unemployment.”
Recent policy interventions include restrictions on multibuy deals for unhealthy foods, implemented on 1 October, which are projected to generate £2billion in health benefits and £180million in NHS savings over 25 years.