Timebomb of obesity

One in five people in the Wyre Forest district is obese and two- thirds are overweight, according to the latest shock figures.

A health expert has called for more cash to be spent on preventing people piling on the pounds rather than waiting until they need cures for weight-related ills.

Worcestershire director of public health Dr Richard Harling said people should realise they had a responsibility for their own health.

But he admitted it could take up to 20 years to change people's lifestyles.

Major hotspots for health problems in the district are Oldington and Foley Park and Greenhill and Broadwaters, where overall death rates are higher than elsewhere.

Dr Harling wants to target major concerns such as childhood obesity.

He said: "We have many ideas to help promote healthier lifestyles.

"We have also had some successful schemes starting up to persuade children to become more active.

"But the annual amount spent on prevention, out of health budgets of £700 million in Worcestershire, is miniscule."

A report by Dr Harling for the Worcestershire Primary Care Trust will be considered by Wyre Forest District Council's community scrutiny committee tonight.

In this he suggests the setting up of weight management clinics to halt the rise in childhood obesity.

By Sue Smith