PLYMOUTH residents are feeling the cost of obesity on their health as well as their pocket, leading city health experts have warned.

The NHS Health Profile 2011 for Plymouth showed shocking results that the health of people in Plymouth is generally worse than England's average and the estimated levels of adult 'healthy eating' are worse than the average.

At present, there are almost two thirds of adults and one third of children who are either overweight or obese in Plymouth.

Brian O'Neill, Consultant in Public Health, said: "The financial side of obesity in Plymouth is very hard to measure but it is worrying.

"We are developing a life-long approach to the achievement and maintenance of healthy weight for the people of Plymouth and this is a task that cannot be achieved by a single department or organisation.

"It requires collaboration of organisations working together with people in Plymouth."

Levels of obesity in Plymouth are similar to the average for England, suggesting that 44 per cent of men and 33 per cent of women are overweight.

In terms of obesity, estimates suggest that we have 22 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women who are classified as obese.

Mr O'Neill continued: "Individually tailored programmes are available to support people in addressing their weight such as exercise on referral programmes and weight loss interventions like the 10% clubs.

"In Plymouth we have more structured programmes for those at serious health risk due to their weight."

The NHS costs of overweight and obesity has been measured and compared nationally from 1998 to 2002.

The cost of treating obesity in England was estimated at £9.4 million in 1998 and up to £49 million in 2002.

Then the cost of treating disease attributable to obesity was estimated at £469.9 million in 1998 and then up to £1,075 million in 2002.

The Government has warned of a national obesity epidemic and said that without action the amount of people in Plymouth overweight or obese would rise in Plymouth .

This would mean almost nine out of ten adults and two thirds of children would be overweight or obese by 2050.