¼ OF LONDON WOMEN ARE OFFICIALLY OBESE

11.42.46am GMT Mon 26th Jan 2004

London now has more than one in four women officially classed as obese and has experienced the biggest rise in obesity compared to anywhere else in the country in the last year.

The figures show that in 2001, fewer than one in five of the capitals' women were classified as obese. In the 2002 - the most recent period available - this had rocketed by 5.6% to 25.5%. London went from the region with the fewest obese women in 2001 to the region with the second highest just a year later.

Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate, Simon Hughes MP, said:

"Londoners waistlines are growing quicker than anywhere else in the country.

"Obesity is a major cause of disability, disease and death in the UK. The dramatic increase in obesity among women is the result of junk diets and poor information about food.

"Obesity is a key factor in causing diabetes and heart disease and is rapidly reversing a century of hard won health gains.

"Ministers and the Mayor must work together to ensure that people have access to clear information to help them make decisions about diet and exercise. That means clearer labels and pressure on the food industry to be honest about the contents of their products."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Parliamentary question to Government Minister, Melanie Johnson (14th January)

Obese Women

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of women were classed as obese in each year since 1990 in (a) England and (b) each region, broken down by social/economic status. [146332]