More than 42 million adults in the UK are predicted to be overweight or obese by 2040.

At present, 64% of adults are overweight or obese, but the numbers are rising year on year.

According to analysis by Cancer Research, this will rise even further to seven in 10 (71%) within two decades.

Of those, 21 million people will be obese, amounting to four in 10 (36%) of all adults.

The shocking new findings comes as the Government delayed its pledge to ban buy-one-get-one-free deals for foods high in fat, salt and sugar for 12 months.

A ban on TV junk food adverts before the 9pm watershed has also been put on hold for a year.

Ministers have defended the delays, saying they are due to an ‘unprecedented’ squeeze on living standards.

But former Tory leader William Hague hit out at the ‘morally reprehensible’ weakening of the anti-obesity strategy.

Writing in The Times, Lord Hague said the U-turn adds to the ‘history of failed obesity strategies’.

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of at least 13 different types of cancer and also causes other conditions such as high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

An estimated 22,800 cases of cancer in the UK each year are due to people being overweight and obese.

Cancer Research chief executive Michelle Mitchell said: ‘These projections should serve as a wake-up call to the Government about the state of our nation’s health.

‘Ministers mustn’t keep kicking the can down the road when it comes to tackling the obesity crisis – delaying measures that will lead to healthier food options.

‘I urge them to revisit this decision and take bold action on obesity, the second biggest preventable risk factor for cancer in the UK.’

The new report suggests the number of obese people could overtake the number who are a healthy weight by the late 2020s in England.

Severe obesity – people with a body mass index above 40 – is also expected to almost double across the UK from 3% to 6%.

Those experiencing higher levels of deprivation will suffer the most.

In England in 2019, 35% of people living in the most deprived areas were obese and this is estimated to increase to 46% by 2040.

For those living in the least deprived areas, the obese figures will increase from 22% to 25%.

The Department of Health and Social Care said it is encouraging healthier food options through calorie labels on menus, and rules on the placement of less healthy products in stores.

‘We will set out further action on levelling up the nation’s health through a white paper later this year,’ a spokesperson added.

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