SHOCKING new figures have revealed that the North East has the highest number of obesity-related hospital admissions in the country.

Statistics from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) reported that the region has more than double average the number of admissions in England per 100,000 of population.

Hospitals in the North East had 56 admissions per 100,000 with a primary diagnosis of obesity in 2011/12.

A total of 1,452 obesity-related hospital stays were recorded.

Nationally there were 22 admissions per 100,000 in the last year, believed to be triple the number recorded five years earlier.

Prof Stephen Singleton, interim chief executive and medical director for NHS North of England, said: “The North East has some of the highest levels of obesity in the country, and these latest figures on hospital admissions reflect the scale of the issue and the serious impact that it has on people’s health.

“They are a stark reminder of how unwell those with obesity can become.

“We know that obesity also often leads to more serious health problems later in life, such as diabetes and cancer, and increases the risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack.

“The region’s NHS is working hard to prevent these hospital admissions by helping people to lose weight through making changes to their lifestyle, such as supporting them to adopt a healthier, balanced diet and take up regular exercise.”

The report Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet, England 2013 brings together several sources of recently published information to provide a comprehensive picture of obesity-related issues in England.

Female admissions in the North East were more than three times the number of male admissions, at 1,112 compared to 340 respectively.