Bradford's obesity problem is getting so large that health chiefs have organised a special conference to try to reduce the district's weight.

Across the UK, one in five people are classed as clinically obese, and Bradford residents are getting fatter, with a high rate of heart disease and diabetes compounding health problems.

The event on Wednesday at Bradford Innovation Centre in Lidget Green is the first conference organised by the new Bradford Public Health Network.

It will look at ways of slimming down the population and will showcase successful health initiatives in the area.

About 120 delegates, who work in health, leisure, sports, education, food and community development, have been invited to find out what is happening in Bradford to keep people in shape from an early age.

Shirley Brierley, Airedale Primary Care Trust registrar in public health, who will speak on the "impact of obesity on the health of the people of Bradford, said: "It is very worrying that the trend in obesity rates is upwards.

"People who are obese do considerably increase their risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancers."

Being overweight can shorten a person's lifespan by up to nine years and 30,000 people die every year in England as a direct result of being too fat.

Experts blame increasingly sedentary lifestyles in which people eat more calories than they burn off, and where hectic modern schedules often don't allow time for exercise.

Mrs Brierley said: "We need to work together to make sure it is easier for people to eat healthily and have an active lifestyle. This is the key message of our conference."

Psychologist Dr Andrew Hill, a senior lecturer at Leeds University and former chairman of the UK Association for the Study of Obesity, will give the keynote speech, and delegates will discuss how to get Bradford's energy balance right and improve diet.