CITY of York Council has pledged to help reduce obesity levels after new figures showed North Yorkshire is one of the fattest counties in England.

Statistics published by Public Health England revealed 63.8 per cent of adults in England are overweight or obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more.

Cumbria is said to be the fattest, with 68.3 per cent of people overweight or obese, followed by North Yorkshire and Staffordshire, both on 67.9 per cent.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, York’s cabinet member for health, said that overweight or obese people had an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers, and excess weight could also affect self-esteem and mental health.

She said: “City of York Council is committed to helping to reduce obesity levels in the city through a range of approaches including raising awareness of the health risks associated with being overweight and obese and monitoring the data trends from the National Child Measurement Programme by gathering height and weight measurements from school children in York.”

Coun Sonja Crisp, leisure cabinet member, said the Sport and Active Leisure team aimed to increase the number of people taking part in physical activity.