Bradford has been named Britain's

fattest city in a national survey.

It reveals Bradford's obesity rate has risen from 14.1 per cent in 2003 to 22.2 per cent this year.

The district also has high levels of heart disease - an indicator of obesity - fewer open spaces and parks than other large cities, low gym membership and a low consumption of fruit and vegetables.

The survey was the fifth annual one

carried out by Men's Fitness magazine. This is the first year Bradford has topped the table.

Michael Donlevy, deputy editor of the magazine, said latest Government figures and data from the British Heart Foundation and market research companies was used.

"I think this report says there is not enough exercise going on and diets are not good," he said. "The problem is gym membership and a lack of parks and open spaces to encourage exercise.

"This should be a kick up the backside for the Council to improve sports facilities."

At the other end of the table, Southampton took the title of fittest city in the magazine's survey.

Cities were awarded points based on how they fared in 10 obesity-related categories. The report looked at the 22 largest cities in the UK, all of which have populations of more than 210,000.

Bradford performed poorly in the category of parks and open spaces and the number of people who are gym members.

Just 8.5 per cent of the population are members of a gym, which placed Bradford second only to Swansea.

And it was third worst for open space, with 1.5 hectares per 1,000 people.

Dr Sheila Webb, director of public health for Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust (tPCT) said: "While obesity remains a growing health problem it is also important that we look at the whole picture in Bradford.

"There are overweight, and especially obese, people who are putting their health at serious risk, but equally worrying, there are also people who are underweight because of poor diet."

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "The Council is involved in a number of initiatives to lower obesity levels in the district.

"The b-active campaign, run by the Council's Sport and Leisure Service, aims to encourage more people to get fit, have fun and be healthy.

"There is also an Obesity Review Group which is carrying out a detailed study of obesity in the district and designing a strategy to tackle the problem.

"We are also one of the organisations involved in the Health of Men initiative - a multi-agency project working to provide a men's health service for the district."