A major factor behind the rise is the soaring number of people claiming PIP for disabling psychiatric disorders – such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD

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Almost 230,000 people in Northern Ireland were claiming personal independence payments (PIP), the main disability benefit, as of February 2026, marking a massive 49% rise in the last five years.

A major factor behind the rise is the soaring number of people claiming PIP for disabling psychiatric disorders – such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Mental illnesses now account for nearly half of all PIP claims (46%).

Musculoskeletal conditions – including chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and degenerative diseases like arthritis – represent the second-largest category, followed by neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s.

Belfast West has the highest proportion of PIP claimants in Northern Ireland. As of February, 21,650 people were claiming PIP in Belfast West.

That’s more than one in five people who live in Belfast West (21.0%) according to recent population figures published by the House of Commons Library.

Foyle has the second-highest PIP claimant rate in Northern Ireland, with just under one in five people receiving benefits (18.3%), followed by Belfast North with one in six (16.7%).

Nationally, one in nine people claim PIP (11.9%), which shows people in Northern Ireland are far more likely to claim the main disability benefit than in Great Britain.

The local figures come as welfare spending dominates national policy debates across the UK.

Broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson recently sparked outcry after claiming young people could receive up to £194 a week “if they’ve got ants in their pants, or ADHD as it is now called, or some other head-based issue with an acronym”. He suggested claimants should send a weekly “thank you” email to taxpayers.

However, disability advocates point out that PIP is a non-means-tested extra-cost benefit rather than an income replacement. In many instances, it covers essential expenses – such as adapted transport and personal care – enabling disabled individuals to remain in work.

Despite this, an independent review of disability benefits recently concluded the current system is “no longer fit for purpose”.

Meanwhile, the independent Timms Review, led by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms, concluded that the PIP application process causes severe distress, describing a system that often “breaks” applicants. A final report on potential system reforms is expected next year.

Addressing wider social care and welfare across the UK, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated he plans to bring “substantial change”.

While committing to lowering the national welfare bill, Mr Burnham told the BBC he would not “go straight to blaming those people” who rely on support, advocating instead for better in-work mental health support and guaranteed opportunities for young people.

Because Northern Ireland operates under a policy of parity for social security, any major structural reforms enacted at Westminster directly impact funding and delivery overseen by Stormont’s Department for Communities.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 13:46 BST, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 13:51 BST, 14 August 2026

Two men have been charged with attempted murder over an attack on Sara Sharif‘s father at HMP Belmarsh.

Steven Sansom, 47 and Adam Watson, 39, are accused of trying to kill the child murderer in January 2025.

Sharif, 44, was jumped by to prisoners in his cell on New Year’s Day, it was reported at the time.

He was left in a critical condition in hospital after allegedly having his throat slashed with the lid of a tuna can, but ultimately survived. 

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It came just weeks after Sharif was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 40 years for the harrowing abuse and killing of his ten-year-old daughter, Sara. 

A prison source was said at the time: ‘Urfan was sliced up badly in his cell by two others who rushed in. It was planned and they used a makeshift weapon — made from the lid of a tin of tuna.

‘He was sliced in the neck and face, and is still in healthcare and in a very bad way.

‘He was lucky to survive, has had to have stitches and will have scars as a permanent reminder of the attack. The guards tried to keep him safe because he obviously had a target on his back after the case was such big news.

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Urfan Sharif, 44, was jumped by to prisoners in his cell on New Year’s Day and suffered serious injuries

Sara Sharif, 10, suffered ‘unimaginable pain’ during more than two years of abuse and was ultimately tortured to death, a judge ruled

‘Something like this was always on the cards, and an attack was probably only a matter of time.

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‘Sharif has tried to keep his head down since coming into the jail, but word quickly got round about who he was.

‘Inmates were not happy he is in there with them and, although the other prisoners are in for heinous crimes, a lot of them don’t like people who attack children. A lot of them are saying how it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy.’

The pair have been charged with attempted murder and section 18 offences, the CPS said.

They will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a first hearing on 26 August 2026.

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During Sharif’s trial a court heard that the 10-year-old schoolgirl suffered ‘unimaginable pain’ during more than two years of abuse and was ultimately tortured to death by her father and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30.

Mr Justice Cavanagh began his sentencing remarks by describing the degree of cruelty shown towards Sara as ‘inconceivable’, and jailed Sharif to a minimum term of 40 years, Batool to 33 years and her uncle, Faisal Malik, to 16 years in prison.

Daren Streeter, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor in CPS London, said: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to charge Steven Sansom and Adam Watson with attempted murder in connection to an incident at HMP Belmarsh in January 2025.

‘Our prosecutors have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and pursue criminal proceedings.

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‘We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendants are active and they have the right to a fair trial. It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information which could in anyway prejudice these proceedings.’

Princess Beatrice has attended the funeral for her mother’s ex-boyfriend Paddy McNally – after the late Formula One mogul reportedly left Sarah Ferguson ‘an allowance’ in his passing.

The King’s niece, 38, appeared solemn and wore black as she arrived for the service at St James’ Church in Wiltshire this afternoon.

McNally, who died aged 88 last month, left a fortune estimated at around £600million, built on the 2006 sale of his hospitality business Allsport Management for £262million.

For years, despite them parting ways, the colourful tycoon had supported the ex-Duchess of York, who was last spotted in April, at a luxury ski resort in the Austrian alps.

However, Fergie was not pictured in attendance today, and it is not known if she was present, amid her recent step-away from the spotlight following criticisms over her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Mr McNally died peacefully following a long illness – just two months after the sudden death of his son Sean, one of his two boys by his late wife Anne.

For years, despite them parting ways, McNally – who did aged 88 last month – had supported the ex-Duchess of York, who was last spotted in April, at a luxury ski resort in the Austrian alps

Mr McNally died peacefully after a long illness – just two months the sudden death of his son Sean, one of his two boys by his late wife Anne

‘He was in a bad way for a while so this comes as good news,’ reflected one old friend to the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden after his passing.

His truly was a life lived in the fast lane, taking him from Gravesend, his Kent birthplace, to the Swiss ski resort of Verbier, where he owned no fewer than three chalets, one of which became mischievously known as ‘Cocaine Castle’, and also to Sevenhampton Place in Wiltshire, a property in St Tropez and a grouse moor in Scotland.

Fergie met Mr McNally, 22 years her senior, after she was recruited to look after Sean and his brother Rollo, following Anne’s death in 1980.

McNally, a charmer who’d been educated at £54,000-a-year Stonyhurst College, was well on his way to amassing a fortune, thanks to his work alongside Bernie Ecclestone, revolutionising F1 corporate entertainment with the Formula One Paddock Club. 

It would be a business that ended up making him the 238th richest man in Britain, with a £600million fortune by the time of his death on July 22, 2026.

His wealth allowed him to indulge chums in all manner of adult entertainment – much to Fergie’s delight.

But their three-year affair ended in 1985. A year later, she became engaged to the then Prince Andrew.

Princess Beatrice has attended the funeral for her mother’s ex-boyfriend Paddy McNally – after the late Formula One mogul reportedly left Sarah Ferguson’an allowance’ in his passing

Beatrice wore all black as she attended the funeral this afternoon, in Wiltshire

The Princess appeared solemn as she was seen in attendance

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When the sad news broke, it led many to speculate that McNally, a widower before he met Fergie and who never remarried, could solve the disgraced ex-duchess’s financial woes for good.

After all, they had stayed friends for over four decades, through Fergie’s marriage and divorce from Andrew and her years of profligate spending and debt.

McNally stood by her to the end, even in recent months when the shame of her 20-year friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein was made public.

After she and Andrew were kicked out of Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park last February, she fled to an Austrian spa and then to McNally’s home in Switzerland.

Fergie reportedly stayed in his £25million chalet – nicknamed ‘Cocaine Castle’ for the parties he hosted – ‘because he always wanted to help her’.

One associate of Sarah’s told The Mail On Sunday’s Caroline Graham: ‘The first question everyone thought was, “Is Paddy going to bail her out for good?” He was fiercely loyal to her throughout her scandals, and there were many.

‘Even in recent months he’s let her stay in his chalet. If he’s left her life-changing money, wouldn’t that be something?’

Another man, who moved in the same circles as Fergie, added: ‘Paddy was shrewd. No one would be surprised if he’s left her a house and cash, but you can bet it’s in a private trust with a monthly income. He’d never give her a lump sum because he knows how easily she’d blow through it.’

Sarah Ferguson and her ex, Paddy McNally pictured together at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone

Fergie is said to be ‘devastated’ by the death of the man she once described as a ‘father figure’ and ‘mentor’, telling one interviewer: ‘He taught me so much about life. When I wanted advice I turned to him. He seemed to have seen and done everything.’

The last time Ferguson was seen in public was in December 2025, photographed ducking down in a car on her way to the christening of Beatrice’s second daughter, Athena.

Meanwhile, Beatrice was last spotted last month in Athens, Greece, as she joined her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi for a holiday – amid rumours that their marriage is on the rocks.

No doubt still revelling in their sixth wedding anniversary celebrations, the pair met up with art curator Aliki Lampropoulos.

Though it’s not certain when the image was taken, Aliki, who served as a host committee member alongside the royal at The Charge charity gala in London in 2014, took to Instagram to share a selfie with the couple, who were seen beaming from ear to ear, yesterday.

While the Greek art expert forwent a written caption, she added a bee emoji, perhaps indicating her nickname for Beatrice.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson‘s eldest daughter and her husband have scarcely been spotted out together in recent times, setting rumours of marital struggles alight.

Beatrice tied the knot with property developer Edo, 42, during a ceremony at the Chapel of All Saints on the Windsor estate, after the Covid pandemic forced the couple to cancel a larger wedding.

However, the nuptials were somewhat overshadowed by Beatrice’s disgraced father, Andrew, after the Epstein scandal forced him to step down from public life in November 2019.

Six years later, the couple’s anniversary on July 17 faced a similar eclipse after new revelations about Andrew’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein allegedly forced a ‘distance’ between Edo and Beatrice in recent months.

It comes as, on the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential, senior Editor-at-Large Richard Kay revealed one of the hideaways where disgraced former Duchess Sarah Ferguson has been spending her summer.

It comes as, on the latest episode of the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential , senior Editor-at-Large Richard Kay revealed one of the hideaways where disgraced former Duchess Sarah Ferguson has been spending her summer 

Kay was joined by Diary Editor Richard Eden to discuss McNally’s passing – and said he believes Ferguson has been staying at McNally’s ‘luxuriously appointed’ Verbier villa this summer.

‘That makes sense because these places have a completely different vibe during the summer. They’re not packed with Brits out there for skiing,’ he explained.

‘You get a few middle-aged people who like walking in the hills, but it’s much more laid-back and low-key. A perfect place to hide up.’

‘People like Paddy would have had all sorts of trusts and things in place to take care of inheritance tax and other requirements. I have always been led to believe that he wanted to leave a sizeable amount of his money to various charities.

‘I also hear that he took the view that he had provided for her a great deal throughout her life.’

Elsewhere, among recent reports that Fergie may get cash – or a nest egg – from McNally, royal author Phil Dampier recently warned that ‘you can never write her off’.

He believes that she may well soon try and tell ‘her side of the story’ – and ‘try and get back in with the King for the sake of her daughters’.

‘It’s quite extraordinary how Sarah Ferguson bounces back time and time again,’ he told the Daily Mail.

‘She has had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra and it looks like she may pull off her most incredible yet.

‘She seemed down and out after the Jeffrey Epstein scandal which ruined her and ex-husband Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and she disappeared for months on end until she was tracked down to an Austrian spa resort.

‘But now it seems she spent some time recently living with her first serious boyfriend Paddy McNally, and with his death she stands to solve her financial problems.

‘He was said to be worth £600million and I’m sure he would have left her a substantial sum as they always remained close and were best friends.

‘His wife died some years ago and one of his sons sadly died earlier this year so he only had one son left.

‘So I’m sure he would have made provision for Fergie.’

He added, however, that Paddy knew Sarah ‘spends money like water as soon as she gets it’ – and it’s likely he would ‘be more likely to give her an annual regular allowance rather than a lump sum, as she would fritter it away’.

‘That makes sense to me as she is a notorious spendthrift,’ Phil continued. ‘Indeed, it was her need for money which led into the orbit of Epstein in the first place and led to a trail of destruction for the former Duke and Duchess of York.

‘My first assignment as a royal journalist was exactly forty years ago in 1986 when I covered her wedding to Prince Andrew.

‘So it’s unbelievable to have seen how things have turned out.

‘She had only just split up with McNally a year or two earlier and very much married Andrew on the rebound, as he did from his relationship with the American actress Koo Stark.

‘But Fergie always carried a torch for Paddy and remained in touch.

‘She would always go back to him or stay with him in times of trouble and he always baled her out.

‘So what now?’

Phil believes Sarah’s future may find her back in the UK soon. 

‘Up until this turn of events I would have said Fergie might have moved abroad, possibly to Portugal where her daughter Eugenie lives much of the time, or Australia, where her sister lives,’ he explained.

But now I think it’s likely she will stay in the UK and there have been reports she is house hunting in the Windsor area.

‘She has had a lot of time to think in the months she has been keeping a low profile and she may have plans already to launch a new business, re-invent herself yet again as a media personality, and she will definitely want at some stage to try and tell her side of the story.

‘She will want to salvage her reputation and portray herself as a victim of Epstein’s lies and circumstances.

‘Whether that is possible is another matter, but with financial security it will enable her to take her time and hire some good PR people.

‘I think it’s less likely she will write yet another autobiography and spill the beans on the royals.

‘And she will want to try and get back in with the King for the sake of her daughters, or at least not upset Charles.

‘Fergie still has her fans, and you can never write her off.’

“We will always take your concerns seriously”

A man has been arrested for stalking offiences after a vehicle was stopped in Belfast city centre.

Officers arrested a man in his 30s on Wellington Place on Friday, August 14, at around 8am following reports of stalking that had been made on Tuesday, August 11.

Officers stopped a white vehicle in the city centre during the arrest and the man remains in police custody at this time. Police have said they will always take concerns regarding offences of this nature seriously.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police arrested a man aged in his 30s in the Wellington Place area of Belfast this morning, Friday 14th August. The arrest followed a report of stalking made to police on Tuesday 11th August. He remains in custody at this time while enquiries continue.

“Stalking is a pattern of unwanted, repeated behaviour which can leave you feeling scared or distressed. You do not have to be threatened with violence to be a victim of stalking, and any kind of persistent, unwanted contact which causes distress is stalking.

“Sometimes stalking behaviours can appear small in isolation, but when they are combined into a pattern which follows the FOUR mnemonic – Fixated, Obsessed, Unwanted, Repeated – then you should record it, keep a log of evidence and report it before it escalates further.

“Thousands of our officers and staff have now been trained to recognise and respond to these crimes and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to bring offenders to justice.

“We will always take your concerns seriously. You can find more information on this at https://www.psni.police.uk/latest-news/psni-romantic-comedy-trailer-highlight-stalking-behaviours.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

It comes as several famous faces have reportedly signed up for the new series in Australia

ITV bosses are set to push back the launch date for the new series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! due to a scheduling clash.

The hit series, which is now in its 24th year, will return to our screens this autumn, and typically gets underway on a Sunday in mid-November. However, there is set to be a change to the show’s scheduling this year, after ITV secured the rights to broadcast live coverage of the UEFA Nations League.

The tournament kicks off next month, with the broadcaster set to show the hotly-anticipated clash between England and World Cup winners Spain on Sunday, November 15 – which had been earmarked as a likely start date for I’m A Celebrity.

With that game set to get underway in Madrid at 7.45pm BST – just over an hour before the jungle series would usually air – bosses have been forced back to the drawing board to find a new launch date.

According to The Sun, the show is now set to kick off on Monday, November 16 instead.

It comes as the first campmates for this year’s series have emerged, with a series of famous faces reportedly signing up to head Down Under this autumn.

They include former Paralympic wheelchair basketball player and presenter Ade Adepitan, who is set to make history as the show’s first contestant to use a wheelchair.

Producers are reportedly set to adapt the famous camp to make it accessible for the 53-year-old, who contracted polio as an infant.

Legendary ice skater Sir Christopher Dean is also being lined up to head to the jungle, with show bosses reportedly confident of finally landing the Dancing on Ice star after he ended his performing career alongside Jayne Torvill last year.

Meanwhile, Gavin and Stacey actress Joanna Page is said to be in “advanced talks” with show bosses about becoming a campmate for the upcoming series.

Other names to be linked include professional dancer Nadiya Bychkova, who has left Strictly Come Dancing after nine years, and Mis-Teeq singer Su-Elise Nash.

Diversity dancer Perri Kiely, broadcaster Nick Ferrari and actress and singer Denise van Outen have also been tipped to appear, with former England cricket captain Ben Stokes also reportedly an outside bet following his shock retirement from the sport.

The new series will follow an eventful All Stars run, which ended in chaotic scenes during a dramatic live final in April.

Based in South Africa, the series was overshadowed by an explosive argument between former Premier League footballer Jimmy Bullard and actor Adam Thomas, with ex-heavyweight boxer David Haye also accused of bullying the Waterloo Road star

It all culminated in a remarkable final, which saw Bullard accuse Thomas of being “abusive, aggressive and intimidating” as two other campmates – Gemma Collins and Sinitta – stormed off the stage in fury, with hosts Ant and Dec struggling to control the situation.

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: 12:19 BST, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 13:23 BST, 14 August 2026

Reform UK has threatened action against Vodafone after they defended the distribution of free mobile phone SIM cards to migrants.

Zia Yusuf, the party’s home affairs spokesman, pledged a Reform government would ‘immediately review’ the mobile network operator’s public contracts.

He also said, if Reform wins the next general election, then it would exclude Vodafone from ‘all defence, national security and emergency services procurement’.

Mr Yusuf questioned whether the firm would be ‘as bold’ after a Reform administration additionally toughened laws on aiding and abetting illegal immigration. 

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He lashed out after Vodafone rejected his demand to stop donating SIM cards to the Care4Calais charity, which then hands them to asylum seekers.

In a letter to Margherita Della Valle, the chief executive of Vodafone Group, Mr Yusuf this week accused the firm of ‘helping to facilitate the invasion of Britain by unvetted military-age men’.

The latest Care4Calais annual report revealed it had received 2,500 SIM cards loaded with six months of free data through its partnership with Vodafone.

Some 2,221 SIM cards were distributed by the charity at a former Royal Air Force base in Wethersfield, Essex, which is now used to accommodate migrants – including those who have crossed the Channel in small boats.

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Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf has threatened action against Vodafone after they defended the distribution of free mobile phone SIM cards to migrants

The latest Care4Calais annual report revealed it had received 2,500 SIM cards loaded with six months of free data through its partnership with Vodafone

Some 2,221 SIM cards were distributed by the charity at a former Royal Air Force base in Wethersfield, Essex, which is now used to accommodate migrants

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In his letter to Ms Della Valle, Mr Yusuf urged Vodafone to ‘immediately cancel’ the SIM cards, terminate its relationship with Care4Calais, and ‘publicly pledge to stop facilitating illegal entry into the UK’.

He said a Reform government ‘will hold each and every officer and director of Vodafone Group Plc and all relevant subsidiaries personally and criminally liable for distributing SIM cards to illegal migrants’.

‘If found guilty, you would be liable to go to prison,’ Mr Yusuf added. But, in response to Mr Yusuf’s letter, Vodafone appeared to reject his demands.

A VodafoneThree spokesman said: ‘VodafoneThree’s programme provides mobile SIMs to registered UK charities for distribution in the UK.

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‘Participating charities are regulated by the Charity Commission. All calls, texts and data are for UK use only.’

Mr Yusuf later posted on social media: ‘Vodafone have confirmed they will continue to hand out free SIM cards to “charities” helping military aged men to break into Britain.

‘Let’s see if they’re as bold when Reform makes aiding and abetting illegal entry a strict liability criminal offence.’

In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Care4Calais said: ‘Zia’s claim is that Care4Calais has been handing out Vodafone SIM cards to refugees in Calais. The problem? That’s not true.

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‘The SIM cards, obtained through Vodafone’s “charities.connected” scheme (which is open to all registered charities in the UK), were all handed out in the UK. Many were provided to people living in ex-military camps like Wethersfield.

‘Unbelievably, Zia Yusuf wrote to Vodafone’s CEO threatening that a Reform government would jail them based on his false claim. A Vodafone spokesperson rebuffed his nonsense.

‘Zia Yusuf has never stood for election but he has been gifted a political platform by Nigel Farage. He chooses to use that platform to spread hate, division and bulls**t.’

Faith Curran, 11, died after falling into water while on a day out with her family in a woodland park in Gorebridge, near Edinburgh.

A dad has been left ‘broken’ by the death of his 11-year-old daughter on a day out at a beauty spot in Midlothian.

Faith Curran was reported missing in Gore Glen Woodland Park near Gorebridge, at around 12:40pm on Thursday August 6, prompting a massive police led search of the area. She was found in the Gore Water river near Shanks Bridge in the local beauty spot several hours later.

Police say her death is being treated as unexplained, though not suspicious, with enquiries ongoing.

Faith leaves behind her father Joe and younger brother Jude, and had been due to start high school.

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The local community has rallied round the family to help raise funds for her funeral.

Family friend Rebecca Campbell revealed that Joe had been left “broken” by his daughter’s sudden death.

She said: “After speaking with Joe, neighbours, friends and family have decided to set up this gofundme page in memory of Faith.

“Sadly Faith passed away suddenly as the result of a tragic accident while out exploring with family & friends.

“Faith was 11 years old about to start her next adventure into high school, she was a happy adventurous little girl and has been taken far to soon.

“Leaving behind her dad Joe, and little brother Jude. As a community we aim to raise as much funds as possible to help the family at this heartbreaking time. Whether it be for funeral costs, a memorial or even for Joe and Jude to have some time away in the coming months.

“We ask that you give no matter how little it may be, any fundraising you can do in faiths memory would be much appreciated and on behalf of Joe and his family he is terribly grateful. Lets help give Faith the send of she deserves or help a broken dad let some stress of his shoulders.”

In an earlier statement issued through Police Scotland, Faith’s family who live locally described her as a “happy, adventurous and outgoing girl who enjoyed life”.

A GoFundMe page set up in memory of the schoolgirl has raised £2,500 towards a £4,000 target.

The Gore Water river runs through the park, which has views of the Pentland Hills to the south of Edinburgh.

Colin Beattie, the MSP for Midlothian North, said previously: “I was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of a young girl at Gore Glen Woodland Park.

“My thoughts are with her family, friends and all those affected by this heartbreaking loss. To donate to the fundraiser visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/faith-curran

“The decision of candidates to attend or not attend the election count is a decision for individuals and their security teams, our role is to make sure our policing operation is sufficiently robust to ensure the safety of all and we are grateful to all of our officers, staff and the staff at Tendring District Council who worked through the night to ensure the safety of all.”

Overweight and obesity is perhaps the biggest risk factor for some of the UK’s biggest killers – heart disease, dementia and many types of cancer. 

Then there’s the impact of excess weight on the joints, bones and respiratory system, increasing the risk of debilitating conditions like arthritis and asthma.

Now, with the advent of highly effective slimming injections, Britain is seeing more weight loss transformations than ever before. But does a sudden shifting of several stone reverse the damage of years of obesity?

The impact of extra weight is, after all, significant. 

‘Obesity generally leads to higher blood glucose levels, and this extra circulating sugar causes body-wide damage,’ says Stuart Gray, a professor of muscle and metabolic health at the University of Glasgow.

‘Much of this damage affects the heart and blood vessels. If it progresses to diabetes, you could face damage to your kidneys as well as nerves in the feet and eyes.

‘Excess body weight also tends to mean you have higher blood fat levels, which can lead to plaques in the blood vessels, narrowing the blood vessels and putting even more strain on your heart.’

So at what point in life is this damage set in stone – regardless of a change in lifestyle – and when is a healthy weight most crucial? Here, experts reveal the ‘sweet spot’ in life when it’s most beneficial to be slim.

Keep a larger frame for less than a decade

The damage done by carrying excess weight begins roughly five years into obesity, according to a 2020 UK study.

However after a decade, the risk of heart disease as well as heart-related death climbs significantly. 

A US study following 5,036 people found those who spent between five and 14 years with obesity had roughly a 94 per cent higher risk of early death compared to those who’d never been obese.

However, Prof Gray says the danger applies to those who are overweight for long periods of time, too.

‘It’s the cumulative exposure to excess weight that’s the problem,’ he says. ‘If you’ve had 10 or 15 years of being overweight or living with obesity, then the inflammation, vascular dysfunction [blood vessel damage] and high glucose levels will have caused some damage that you can’t get rid of.’

However he adds that being overweight for a long period of time, for instance 10 or 20 years or more, is perhaps more dangerous than a shorter period of time with obesity.

‘Someone with obesity for five years may not have accumulated the same heart risk as a person in their 40s who has spent most of their life overweight,’ he says. 

Although joints and bones may be vulnerable to a short burst of extreme excess weight, he adds.

‘Really high levels of excess weight might accelerate things like joint damage, which is hard to recover from.’

Most critical decades for weight loss: Your 20s, 40s and 50s

Experts agree that there are two points in life that are the most crucial for getting into the best shape of your life – but for very different reasons.

While the body has ‘considerable capacity to recover’ from metabolic problems in your 20s, compared to other decades, it’s the best time to set up healthful habits for life.

Dr Mayoni Gooneratne, Executive Medical Director at Personalised Health Clinics, says your 20s is the time in life when most people have very little reason not to pursue a healthy routine.

Age-related wear and tear is at a minimum, and time-consuming stressors like caring for children and managerial job roles are less common.

Studies show that the earlier in life individuals begin a healthy eating pattern, the more likely they are to stick to it through mid-life and beyond. 

‘If you’re in your twenties, build a way of eating and moving that you’ll happily repeat for decades,’ advises Dr Gooneratne.

‘It’s the time to prevent years of gradual weight gain and inactivity from becoming normal.’

Your forties and fifties, aka midlife, are a key time to make changes, experts say.

A UK study published in the journal PLOS Medicine found that those who were obese for 20-30 years – mostly beginning around aged 10 – had double the risk of type 2 diabetes compared to those with just a decade of obesity.

‘When you get to the forties and fifties, you see a much more dramatic increase in risk to your health associated with being overweight or obese,’ says Professor Gray.

‘Although people should be thinking about their health earlier, if you haven’t already, once you get to that age group, that’s when you definitely want to start thinking about it.’

The Framingham Heart Study – an ongoing study into the cardiovascular health of Americans – found that the risk of obesity-related heart disease was 62 per cent higher than average in those aged 50-74, compared to 37 per cent higher in 25 to 49 year-olds.

A big reason for this is the hormonal changes that occur at this stage of life. 

For women aged between 45 and 55, the decline in the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone, triggered by menopause, can lead to weight gain, particularly around the middle.

Visceral fat, which is fat stored around organs, is strongly associated with insulin resistance, making it harder for the body to stabilise blood sugar.

‘Women start to lose muscle and bone at this age and the hormone change starts to affect blood vessel health too,’ says Professor Gray.

‘These hormonal changes happen differently in men but the downstream effects are broadly similar.’

Midlife can also be a hectic phase.

‘Your work life might peak and it’s really stressful, you become less active, you’ve got more responsibility looking after older parents and kids, you’ve just got a lot of life demands,’ says Prof Gray.

‘All those things again contribute to metabolic risk; you start to gain a little bit of weight, you become less active, so on and so on, and you start that vicious cycle.’

The benefits of losing weight at this stage of life are perhaps more considerable than in younger years, experts say. 

Research published in the journal JAMA Network Open found that people in midlife who lost excess weight had a 48 per cent lower risk of developing chronic disease, than those who stayed overweight. 

This means they developed chronic disease at about half the rate of those who didn’t lose weight during the 23-year follow up period.

This period is so critical that the NHS offers a free health check to those over the age of 40 every five years, which includes waist measurement, blood pressure, cholesterol and sometimes blood glucose testing.

Promisingly, experts say there’s not a point of no return when it comes to weight loss.

A 2010 US study found that a weight loss intervention for adults aged 69 to 75 halved the number of deaths in the group, said to be a result of the average of 10 pound fat loss.

However, research has consistently shown that elderly adults who lose weight – those aged above 75 – are more likely to suffer an early death.

A 2024 analysis found that a 10 per cent reduction in body mass index, or BMI, in adults over 65 was linked to a significantly higher risk of death over the next seven years. 

Experts say this is likely because extra weight in your 70s and 80s protects against frailty and falls, which are a major cause of hospitalisation in old age.

What’s more, extreme weight loss at this stage of life is often a sign of an underlying deadly disease, such as cancer. 

Even in those who don’t go on to develop deadly conditions, the benefit of weight loss in the over 75s is far less significant than in younger individuals, according to a 2014 meta-analysis of 20 studies. 

So, if you’re about to embark on a weight loss journey, where should you start?

According to Prof Gray, portion control is key. ‘ While diet quality should of course be considered, most of the evidence is that quantity is the biggest issue when it comes to excess weight,’ he says. ‘Compliment that with physical activity.’

Dr Gooneratne adds: ‘Make most meals from vegetables, fruit, pulses, wholegrains, nuts/seeds where appropriate and protein. 

‘Reduce your reliance on sugary drinks, snack foods, takeaways and ultra-processed meals.

‘Build regular walking or other movement into daily life, alongside progressive resistance training while placing emphasis on good sleep and less stress will go a long way.’

Charities have issued an urgent warning over a wave of ‘Frankenstein cats’ with extreme, unnatural features.

Breeds such as the Scottish fold, Persians, Sphynx cats, and new ‘XL bully‘ cats have seen ‘booming popularity’.

These popular breeds suffer from lifelong debilitating health issues that make it impossible for them to live a happy, healthy life.

Now, experts warn that cats could soon bear little resemblance to the traditional moggy unless urgent action is taken on ‘cruel cat breeding practices’.

The RSPCA and charity Cats Protection say that social media and celebrity trends have created huge demand for cats with folded ears, shortened limbs and missing tails or hair.

Scottish folds, like those owned by Taylor Swift, now account for up to 2 per cent of the entire cat population in the UK.

However, the same gene which causes ‘cute’ folded ears affects cartilage, leading to abnormal bone development, chronic pain and sometimes severe lameness.

Alice Potter, senior scientific and policy officer in the RSPCA’s science and policy group, says: ‘Cats must not be forced to suffer unnecessarily because of physical traits that some humans find desirable.’

Over the last few decades, cat charities have watched with alarm as designer cats spread around the world and rose to incredible heights of popularity.

Madison Rogers, associate director of advocacy at Cats Protection, says: ‘Cats’ body shapes have remained broadly similar for hundreds of years, but in a relatively short space of time this has dramatically changed.’

In the decade between 2016 and 2025, the RSPCA found a 200 per cent increase in the number of British shorthairs and a 180 per cent increase in Persians.

Both of these cats are brachycephalic, meaning they have been bred to suffer from an extreme skull deformity in order to have a very flat face.

Likewise, the so-called XL Bully cat has exploded in popularity after first appearing in the UK in 2024.

This breed was created by crossing hairless Sphynx cats with short-legged Munchkin cats.

The result is a cat that has no whiskers to navigate and communicate with other cats, suffers from limb deformities that painfully restrict movement and cannot go out in the sun.

Yet, despite these well-known health issues, the RSPCA and Cats Protection say that popularity is ‘booming’.

Sphynx cats’ hairlessness leaves them vulnerable to skin infections and exposes them to harmful UV rays. Without fur, they also struggle to regulate body temperature

Ms Rogers says: ‘If action is not taken quickly, we are likely to see more alarming examples of what we are calling “Frankenstein” cats – who bear no resemblance to our beloved moggy and, tragically, come with multiple health issues.’

Persian cats’ flat faces cause conjunctivitis, ulcers and tooth misalignment, eye problems, and significant breathing difficulties that make it difficult to exercise

Sphynx cats’ hairlessness leaves them vulnerable to severe skin infections and exposes them to harmful UV rays.

Without fur, Sphynx cats also struggle to regulate their body temperatures, which can quickly become dangerous during summer heatwaves.

At RSPCA Millbrook, staff are working ‘around the clock’ to try and keep two abandoned Sphynx cats, named Spongebob and Pearl, cool and comfortable.

Claire Jones, RSPCA Millbrook cattery supervisor: ‘They are struggling in the heat due to their inability to regulate their temperature, as they don’t have a coat that can help keep them cool – by deflecting heat, or trapping air against the skin.

Likewise, Scottish folds’ deliberate genetic mutations lead many cats to suffer from painful, untreatable mobility issues their entire lives.

Claire Chafer, from Staffordshire, adopted her Scottish fold cat Fenella from Cats Protection’s Derby cat centre in 2024.

Scottish folds like Fenella (pictured), suffer a genetic condition that produces their folded ears and also causes abnormal bone development, chronic pain and sometimes severe lameness

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Ms Chafer says: ‘We’ve had a blind, three-legged cat before, and another one with a neurological condition, but neither of them have needed the kind of help that Fenella needs, and both enjoyed much more normal cat behaviour.’

Fenella’s joints were not properly formed, so she cannot groom herself and her flat face means she gets covered in food which she is unable to clean.

‘I see celebrities owning Scottish folds, but it’s not at all glamorous,’ says Ms Chafer.

However, would-be pet owners are often unaware of these severe health issues, often finding themselves facing complicated burdens of care and massive vet bills.

Ultimately, that means many end up being given over to shelters, and both the RSPCA and Cats Protection have seen an increase in designer cats coming into their care.

The commercial breeding of cats in the UK isn’t subject to any specific oversight, except in Scotland where licensing rules apply to breeders with three or more litters a year.

That means the industry remains ‘largely unregulated’, with no rules restricting the breeding of extreme unhealthy traits.

The charities are now calling for urgent action from the Government to ban the breeding of cats with known harmful traits, and calling on the public to stop buying these cats.

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR CAT? THE 13 SECRET SIGNALS FELINES GIVE THEIR OWNERS

Cats are often branded aloof and solitary creatures who spend their days plotting their human owner’s demise, but such characterisations could not be further from the truth.

In fact, our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language.

In her eye-opening new book Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat, author Lili Chin – with the help of animal behaviourists – explains how to interpret your pet’s movements.

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Below are some of the most common behaviours and what they could signal.

Our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language