HUNGRY. Espresso: Henry Dimbleby - How Britain Became The Most Obese Country in Europe
Aug 21, 2025
The podcast dives into the paradox of Britain's obesity crisis against its strong environmental policies. It links historical changes since the industrial revolution to shifts in food culture and public health. The discussion highlights how class divisions have shaped food access and nutrition, especially after the repeal of the corn laws. The contrasts between socio-economic factors and dietary habits reveal deep-rooted challenges in the UK's food system.
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UK's Poor Obesity Outcomes
- The UK ranks among the worst in Europe for obesity, second only to Malta and close to North America.
- Henry Dimbleby links this to national outcomes despite strong environmental regulation and farming changes.
Lost Connection To Food Culture
- Early industrialisation separated Britons from land and traditional food culture, accelerating urbanisation and imported food reliance.
- Dimbleby argues this cultural break explains worse diets compared with less urbanised European countries.
Poverty Deepens Diet Problems
- Poverty links to poor diet in Britain in a way Dimbleby says is unusually strong compared to some other countries.
- He suggests the loss of indigenous food culture amplifies that poverty–diet connection.