MORE people across Dorset are becoming obese, the Dorset Echo can reveal.

Figures from NHS digital have revealed that hospital admissions due to obesity soared by 16 per cent in the last year.

The latest figures revealed that there were more than 12,096 admissions to hospitals across the county in 2016/17 where obesity was a factor, up from 10,392 in 2015/16.

Across the county, this is equal to 1,487 per 100,000 population where obesity was a factor between March 2016 and December 2017 - this can include a range of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Meanwhile, across England, more than 617,000 people were admitted to NHS hospitals in 2016/17 for Obesity-related conditions - up by 18 per cent from 524,725 in 2015/16, which is equal to 12 for every 1,000 people in the country with Wirral and Slough had the highest admission rates.

Since 1993, prevalence of obesity has increased from 15 per cent to 26 per cent of all adults while 10 per cent of children in reception in England are obese, rising to 20 per cent of children in year 6.

Public Health England bosses admitted that obesity was a “significant challenge” and that more needed to be done.

Professor Louis Levy, head of nutrition science for Public Health England, added: “These figures show obesity and its associated health risks remain a significant challenge across England.

“We’re working with industry to make food healthier, we’ve produced guidance for councils on planning healthier towns and we’re delivering campaigns encouraging people to choose healthier food and lead healthier lives.

“It’s taken many years for levels of obesity to reach this point and change will not happen overnight.”

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, national clinical director for diabetes and obesity at NHS England, said: “We have been clear that the growing obesity crisis sweeping the country is a public health crisis and the evidence backs it up.

“Our own sugar restrictions, the new sugar tax and the NHS diabetes prevention programme are all part of what needs to be a concerted effort to address obesity.”

One solution that people have resorted to is to have Bariatric surgery which can be performed to help with weight loss and can include stomach stapling, gastric bypasses and sleeve gastrectomy.

In Dorset, 59 patients had Bariatric surgery in 2016/17 with the majority (47) being woman.