Britain becomes the fat man of Europe

Britain is the fattest country in Europe, the Government said yesterday as it published the most comprehensive picture yet of the nation's health.

Figures show that 23 per cent of adults are classified as obese, ahead of Spain (13.1 per cent), Germany (12.9), France (9.4) and Italy (8.5).



The problem is growing among children, with the percentage up from 9.9 per cent in 1995 to 14.3 in 2004.

Caroline Flint, the public health minister said that obesity was by far the greatest challenge facing the country's health, putting people at a greater risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and strokes.

And the North-South divide remains. Men in the South live two years longer than those in the North. On average, women in the North live one year less than in the South.