THERE were almost 20,000 hospital admissions for patients with obesity in Bradford last year, according to new figures.

Latest NHS statistics show obesity was the primary or secondary cause of around 19,620 hospital admissions for patients in Bradford in the 2023 financial year.

This was up from the year before, when there were around 17,205 admissions.

Nationally, admissions have increased eight per cent since last year, when there were 1.1 million recorded.

Earlier this month, the Government confirmed it would introduce legislation to ban companies advertising products deemed high in fat, salt and sugar on TV before 9pm.

The ban, which was first proposed by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2021, will come into force in October 2025.

Dr Kawther Hashem, head of research and impact at campaign group Action on Sugar, voiced concerns over the obesity figures.

She said: "The rise in obesity and the unhealthy food environment we are surrounded with are key contributing factors which need to be urgently addressed by the Government.

"Now, more than ever, do we need a food environment that ensures more healthier options are available, accessible and affordable to everyone."

The NHS data also reveals how many prescriptions were issued for Orlistat, a treatment for obesity available on the NHS which prevents some fat consumed from being absorbed by the body.

Across the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, there were 13,937 Orlistat prescriptions issued in the year ending March 2023, or six for every 1,000 people.

This was an 11 per cent increase over the last year.

Helen Kirrane, head of policy and campaigns at Diabetes UK, said obesity was a "major risk factor" in developing diabetes.

"Better treatment for obesity should not be the only solution to the UK's obesity crisis," she added.

"Instead, we need to see a wide range of measures that would help address the scale of the issue."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "This country has failed to tackle the obesity crisis, harming people's health and costing the NHS billions of pounds.

"This Government is urgently tackling the obesity crisis head-on - shifting our focus from treatment to prevention - to ease the strain on our NHS and helping people to live well for longer.

"This includes restricting junk food advertising on TV and online, empowering councils to block the development of new fast-food shops outside of schools, and banning the sale of energy drinks to under 16s."