Lincolnshire’s fattest towns – and how each area ranks

Some areas of Lincolnshire have nearly twice the rate of obesity than the national average, government statistics show.

The figures, collected by the NHS from GP surgeries in 2017/18, show that the highest rates of obesity in the county can be found in areas along the Lincolnshire Coast.

Meanwhile, areas further inland such as Lincoln, Stamford and Market Deeping have among the lowest rates of obesity in the county.

Obesity is linked with an increase in contracting a number of potentially life-threatening conditions, inclduing type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, some types of cancer and strokes.

Ingoldmells & Chapel St Leonards, in East Lindsey has the highest reported rates of obesity in the county, with 18.3 per cent of people living with the condition.

This is nearly twice the national average of 9.7 per cent.

In fact, the district of East Lindsey contains the areas with the six highest reported rates of the condition.

Skegness North (17.2 per cent), Skegness Central (16.8 per cent), Skegness South (16.5 per cent), Sutton-on-Sea (16.5 per cent) and Mablethorpe (15.8 per cent) also top the table.

Councillor Colin Davie, who represents the Ingoldmells Rural ward at Lincolnshire County Council, said he thought the demographics in coastal ares of the county contributed to the high rates of obesity and that people needed to take steps to limit how obesity affects them.

“It doesn’t surprise me that the Lincolnshire coastline has issues with obesity given the nature of a large elderly retired population, many of whom have worked in the industrial sites of the Midlands during their lives,” he said.

“Good diet is very important to avoid diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and strokes. It’s therefore vital that our residents make use of our environment and resources such as our coastline paths to explore, walk and exercise while ensuring they have the diet that achieves the longest possible lifespan.”

On the opposite end of the scale, and perhaps unsurprisingly given its high number of students, the Wharf & University area of Lincoln has the lowest rates of obesity at 7.2 per cent.

Areas of Stamford and Market Deeping had among the lowest rates in the county at less than 9 per cent, while Colsterworth and Navenby also ranked well in this.

Despite having a reputation for being on the larger side, the people of Boston seem to be fitter than their reputation suggests, with Central Boston having an obesity rate of 9.8% as did the nearby areas of Fenside (9.9%) and Swineshead and Holland Fen (9.8 per cent).

Meanwhile, Sleaford West and Sleaford East had reported obesity rates of 13.4 per cent, only slightly higher than the surrounding villages of Ruskington (13.3 per cent), Leasingham (13.1 per cent) and Metheringham (12.2 per cent).

A spokesperson for Active Lincolnshire, which aims to increase the amount of physical activity people in the county do, said diet is not the only factor when it comes to staying healthy.

“Physical activity is one of the key components to a healthy weight and lifestyle,” she said. “Being active everyday can help with maintaining a healthy weight, improve mood, concentration and reduce the risk of diseases related to sedentary behaviour.

“‘Let’s Move’ is a Lincolnshire wide taskforce that has just launched a blueprint to tackle the problem of inactivity and help improve the lives and overall health of those living and working in Lincolnshire.”