BARNSLEY is England’s biggest obesity hotspot, according to new figures.

A “fat map” of the UK, based on statistics from GP practices across the UK, shows that more than one in ten (10.8%) patients registered with GPs in the town are obese.

Following closely behind are North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) where 10.7% or patients are obese, and Doncaster PCT with an obesity level of 10.1%.

The Yorkshire area with the smallest proportion of overweight people is Sheffield where 6.7% of patients are obese.

In Kirklees, the figure is 7.60%, meaning that one in 12 of the population are obese. In Calderdale the levels are 7.30%.

Dr Paul Redgrave, director of public health at Barnsley PCT, said: “We are fully aware of the problems facing people who are overweight and obese and we are taking it very seriously.

“We have looked at places in world that have been successful at reducing levels of obesity. Members of our team went to Finland last year where they had a highly successful program and we have learned from a program in France where they have been successful in reducing levels of obesity among children. We are now implementing aspects of the Finnish and French programmes here in Barnsley.”

Barnsley PCT (10.8%) Doncaster PCT (10.1%.) Wakefield District PCT (9.30%); Rotherham PCT (9.20%); North East Lincolnshire PCT (9.00%); East Riding Of Yorkshire PCT (8.10%); Hull PCT (7.70%); Kirklees PCT (7.60%); North Yorkshire & York PCT (7.50%); Bradford & Airedale PCT (7.30%); Calderdale (7.30%); Leeds PCT (6.90%).

National

Shetland (15.54), Torfaen (13.90), Blaenau Gwent (12.50), Neath (11.90), Caerphilly (11.10), Rhondda (11.10),Barnsley PCT (10.80), Wrexham (10.80), North Lincolnshire PCT (10.70), Merthyr Tydfil (10.60)