Government data shows that prisons are experiencing an increase in supersize clothing demand due to overweight prisoners.
According to figures provided by the Ministry of Justice, prison bosses ordered thousands of overalls up to 8XL in size.
Trousers with a waist up to 66in are ordered. Jackets of sizes 3XL-6XL will be accepted.
A Prison Service spokesman insisted that offenders receive ‘healthy meals and the opportunity to exercise’.
Government data shows that prisoners who have excess weight are driving a spike in the demand for larger clothing.
The pandemic has seen obesity in prisoners rise, leaving them locked up for long periods of time.
However, obesity among prisoners seems to have increased during the pandemic that has kept them locked up for many hours.
Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said: ‘The statistics are horrifying but serve well to illustrate the result of being locked up.
‘Covid has shown that whole populations are now experiencing obesity through lockdown.’
This report follows an investigation into a prison that revealed how transgender prisoners also have difficulty accessing larger sizes of female clothing.
HMP Bristol’s Independent Monitoring Board said: ‘Issues have occurred with the delayed provision of kit from the female estate for transgender prisoners.’