More people have been gaining weight since the pandemic

Obesity isn’t just straining the NHS; it’s now driving a surge in disability benefits, costing taxpayers almost £144 million since 2019 as more than 5,000 people receive welfare payments for obesity. The new Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained by ZAVA via the Department for Work and Pensions has revealed that as of 2025, 4,413 people are claiming PIP for obesity, up 59% from January 2019 (2,780), and 800 are receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Almost 60% of claimants with obesity are eligible for the Motability scheme, which allows them to lease vehicles paid for by teh Government. During 2020, the year of the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of claimants receiving PIP for obesity (3,093) increased by 11% from

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