Health experts are calling for a revolution in eating habits after Bradford was named the sixth "fattest" city in the country.

The survey found that large numbers of the city's population are overweight with many indulging in idle lifestyles.

It discovered that residents spend less time exercising than in many other cities and tend to favour fatty foods such as cakes, buns and biscuits.

Researchers also looked at the amount of junk food, alcohol and cigarettes consumed in the city and the time people spend watching television.

Erinn Morgan, who conducted the study for Muscle and Fitness magazine, said the city's poor performance could be down to one of its most famous exports - the curry.

He said: "The abundance and variety of local cuisine may have caused a large number of Bradford's citizens to become overweight and lead a sedentary lifestyle. This could only be exacerbated by other factors such as residents' lack of enthusiasm for regular exercise, the small numbers of areas for outdoor recreation, a limited number of sporting goods outlets and poor air and water quality."

Councillor Simon Cooke, deputy leader of Bradford Council, said it was time that many people began to change what they eat.

He said: "I believe there are a lot of people in Bradford who have quite unhealthy lifestyles and this is not something we are going to change overnight.

"Whether they are eating fish and chips or curry regularly, people have got to realise these things are going to affect their health in the long term."

Michelle Smith, sales and marketing manager at Cannon's Health Club in Cottingley, agreed that Bradford was an unhealthy city.

She said: "Unfortunately people are not as educated as they could be when it comes to the foods they should be eating.

"On the positive side there are more health clubs in the district these days and membership is on the up."

Javed Khan, pictured, a trainee fitness instructor at Manningham Sports Centre, said curries played an important role in Bradford's weight problem.

"It is particularly true of elderly Asian men who previously worked in the mills and burned off the fat. Now, because they are not active but still eating curries, the weight piles on."

"To get fitter people have to eat sensibly as well as taking exercise. It is not one or the other."

And he said: "Keeping fit doesn't mean that you have to run at 100mph. A walk in the park can help and once people start taking exercise they usually say 'Why didn't I do this ten years ago?'"

Out the 27 cities featured in the table, Glasgow was found to be the most unhealthy with Bristol taking the gong for having the fittest residents.

Researchers compiled the tables using data from the National Census, the Health Survey for England, the UK Governments Statistics Database and National Food Survey. They also looked at air and water quality, the number of patients per doctor and the percentage of the population on hospital waiting lists.

But Jack Taylor, who reckons he is Britain's fattest man at 50st 11lbs, said people should enjoy what they eat.

Mr Taylor, 57, of Sedgwick Close, Manningham, said: "There are a lot of overweight people in Bradford but being happy with the way you are is the most important thing. Fitness fans should lay off us fat people. I am fat and proud."