MID-Dorset and Poole North MP Annette Brooke attended a Parliamentary reception this week marking National Obesity Week.

This initiative, which is running until Sunday, is to highlight ways of tackling obesity.

Mrs Brooke said: “The scale of the obesity problem in this country is growing, and we must do all we can to raise awareness and encourage people to tackle the problem.

“I was pleased to attend this event in Parliament to mark the beginning of National Obesity Week.”

Meanwhile, National Obesity Awareness Week campaign director Chris Whitehouse said: “We are delighted at the level of interest in National Obesity Week, which has been embraced by organisations, associations and charities the length and breadth of the UK.

“There is a common understanding about the problem. We hope this week will be a watershed in getting to the solution both in terms of reducing obesity and supporting those who are already obese.”

The National Obesity Forum’s latest report suggests half the UK population could be obese by 2050 at an annual cost of £50 billion.