Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

UK third fattest nation in Europe

The UK has now emerged as the third fattest nation in Europe, with two in three people overweight, a World Health Organisation (WHO) report showed.

The two other countries that ranked above Britain are Malta and Turkey.


Research on 53 countries, involving 900 million people, showed that not only is Britain up on the obesity league tables, it is also the “world champions” for alcohol consumption. And this could be a huge contributor to Britain's obesity rates.

On average, Britons drink 10.7 litres of pure alcohol a year, compared with a European average of 8.6.

Dr Claudia Stein, director of the division of Information, Evidence, Research and Innovation, WHO Regional Office for Europe, said the trends threatened to “jeopardise life expectancy” of millions and obesity is liked to a host of medical issues, including diabetes and heart disease.

“Adults’ alcohol consumption is a huge contributor to obesity, and Britain has overtaken the European average,” she warned, according to the Telegraph. “We hold the horrible world record of being the world champions in alcohol consumption. That’s not good and its especially not good for the next generation,” she said.

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said: "The UK is third from bottom on the WHO's list because for two decades successive UK governments have done virtually nothing to confront an increasing obesity epidemic.”

He also pointed out that millions of children were so overweight they were doomed to die before their parents. He has urged adults to control their drinking habits that are fuelling obesity.

“Adults forget just how many calories are contained in alcohol and heavy drinkers certainly will have little idea that they could be knocking back a quarter of their recommended daily calorie allowance before even touching a bite to eat.”

More For You

Asian representation Parkinson’s awareness

Organisations like Parkinson’s UK are so vital.

Instagram/ itsmitamistry

Joining the movement: Championing Asian representation and Parkinson’s awareness through sport

Mita Mistry

I recently joined the incredible team at the Asian Sports Foundation. It is an honour to work alongside passionate individuals such as Shazia Ali, Harleen Kaur and Angus Martin. Since it was founded by Jug Johal, the Asian Sports Foundation has worked to transform inactivity into active living, promoting better wellbeing and greater representation of Asian communities in sport and physical activity.

This is a cause close to my heart. The undeniable power of sport and movement to improve both physical and mental health cannot be overstated. It is a message I have consistently championed, alongside a commitment to equity and inclusion, which is why I am so excited to contribute to a charity that truly embodies this ethos.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bollyday

Bollyday has rewritten the rulebook on clubbing – and frankly, it feels long overdue.

Bollyday brings Bollywood sparkle to daytime clubbing and it’s a five-star game-changer

Whoever said you need moonlight to find magic clearly has not stepped onto the spectacular, LED-lit dance floor at this daytime Bollywood bonanza.

From the moment the doors opened at Popworld in London, Bollyday fizzed with the kind of unfiltered joy usually reserved for weddings or late-night parties – except here, you still get home in time for a proper night’s sleep (and Sunday roast prep).

Keep ReadingShow less
Labubu

Its appeal lies in its unpredictability, emotional expressiveness, and the thrill of collecting

Getty Images

Labubu’s unlikely rise from quirky Chinese toy to global phenomenon

A mischievous elf-like toy called Labubu has gone from niche collectable to global cultural phenomenon. Created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung and popularised by Chinese toy giant Pop Mart, Labubu has captured the imaginations of collectors from Beijing to London and beyond, with celebrity endorsements and long queues at retail stores fuelling its rapid rise.

The birth of Labubu

Labubu originated as a character in The Monsters, a picture book series by Lung. With its signature wide eyes, pointed ears and toothy grin, the figure was designed to be kind-hearted yet chaotic, charming in a deliberately imperfect way. The name “Labubu” itself doesn’t mean anything; it was invented for the character.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hulk Hogan

Hogan’s current hospital stay follows a neck fusion surgery he underwent in May 2025

Getty Images

Hulk Hogan hospitalised for back and neck issues, rep confirms he is not on deathbed

WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has been hospitalised for ongoing neck and back issues, but representatives have confirmed he is not in critical condition, dismissing online speculation suggesting otherwise.

The 71-year-old wrestling icon, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was reported by TMZ Sports to be undergoing treatment related to injuries sustained during his decades-long in-ring career. His representative said Hogan is already mobile again and “not on his deathbed”, following false claims made on air by Florida radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge.

Keep ReadingShow less
Wincey Willis

Willis quickly became a standout figure

Getty Images

Wincey Willis, pioneering TV-am ‘weather girl’ who reshaped breakfast TV, dies at 76

Wincey Willis, a well-known face on British television during the 1980s and a pioneer of breakfast TV presenting, has died aged 76. Her death occurred on 19 December 2024, but was only recently announced.

Born Florence Winsome Leighton in Gateshead on 8 August 1948, she became widely recognised during her time on Good Morning Britain, the flagship programme of ITV’s TV-am. With her vibrant personality, distinctive mullet hairstyle, and energetic presence, she played a pivotal role in helping revive the struggling breakfast channel in the early 1980s.

Keep ReadingShow less