OVERWEIGHT Bradford residents have been urged to take responsibility for their own health after new figures revealed the district is the third "fattest" in England.

The statistics show that across England there were 811 hospital admissions out of every 100,000 people where doctors noted a patient's obesity.

In Bradford there were 1,907 admissions - more than double the national average - where medics recorded a "primary or secondary" diagnosis of obesity.

Nationally, the worst area for obesity was the Wirral with a figure of 2,894, with Cornwall second and Bradford third, according to the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).

In the London Borough of Richmond - the "thinnest" area - the figure stands at only 238 per 100,000.

In 2014, 58 per cent of women and 65 per cent of men in England were overweight or obese, the figures show.

HSCIC said obesity prevalence has increased from 15 per cent in 1993 to 26 per cent in 2014.

Commenting on the figures, Tam Fry, spokesman for the National Obesity Forum, said the figures brought home the "enormity of the obesity epidemic."

"The tragedy of such figures is that in 2013 local councils everywhere were never allocated sufficient funds to tackle the problem by Westminster and, in addition, have had to cope with further cuts to their general budgets.

"The numbers will escalate until their legitimate demands for the cash to do the job are met or central government takes back responsibility of controlling the crisis."

A public health official in Bradford said the figures reiterated the importance of people looking after themselves.

Ralph Saunders, head of public health for Bradford Council, said: "It is everyone's responsibility to make sure they, and their families, get enough exercise and maintain a healthy diet.

"Physical inactivity is a significant factor in the development of many serious conditions, such as coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Simply focussing on eating a better diet is only part of the solution.

"We are working to change the culture and behaviour in the district to help people understand why it is important for everyone to be active."

He said adults needed to do at least 150 minutes of activity that makes them breathless every week.

Children, aged between five and 18, need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Mr Saunders added: "Adults can get support to improve their lifestyle by visiting the One You website and families can get help and advice by searching for Change4life online.

"Physical activity can take place at home, in your neighbourhood, en-route to work and school or as part of your leisure time.

"By getting more people more active we can improve their health and wellbeing as well as benefitting communities and neighbourhoods."