Obesity is a growing problem in Swindon with doctors having to deal with an increasing number of overweight people. ALEX EMERY reports.

IT may be coincidental that fat and fatal lie side by side in the dictionary but judging by UK obesity statistics their position seems pertinent.

More and more people are piling on the pounds and putting their health at risk.

Dieticians at Swindon's Great Western Hospital have reported a 50 per cent increase in referrals of people with weight problems, while doctors say more and more people with obesity-related conditions are coming through their surgery doors.

Government figures from 2003 show people living in Wiltshire have the highest obesity rates in the south west and the number of clinically obese people is ballooning, with three times more cases of obesity than 20 years ago.

In Wiltshire, according to government figures, 39.7 per cent of the population are overweight or obese, compared with a national average of 37.6.

And although there are no statistics for Swindon itself, it is thought the figure could be higher than the county average.

Being overweight, and being obese in particular, carries serious health implications ranging from increased risk of heart disease, certain types of cancer, joint problems and diabetes.

The weight problem hitting Swindon is reflected by the fact that people in the town are 40 per cent more likely to die of a heart attack than the national average.

Dr Kandy Kandiah of Sparcells Surgery has noticed a marked increase in the number of obese people in his 20 years practising in Swindon.

He said: "Obesity is a huge problem here. We have so many junk food shops around which encourages people to eat unhealthily.

"It doesn't help with stars like Gary Lineker advertising crisps and other junk food. Fast food is a massive industry but fighting obesity can't just be down to doctors. We advise people how best to live a healthy life but we can't force people to follow that."

Dr Kandiah thinks New Zealanders have the right idea about eradicating fat.

According to a poll from the country's National Business Review, 40 per cent of people support the idea of introducing a tax on fatty foods to tackle the country's obesity problem.

In Auckland, support was even higher, with 47 per cent of people thinking a tax would be a good idea.

"Drastic action such as a tax is needed," said Dr Kandiah. "I find it madness that healthy foods such as ready-made salads are so expensive. People want to eat healthily but junk food tends to be the cheapest option.

"Swindon parents should think about giving their children healthy diets from an early age. Too many children watch too much TV and eat too much junk food.

"Childhood obesity is linked to early type two diabetes, hypercholesterol and cardiac disease leading to early death.

"Diabetes occurs because obese people become insulin resistant. It means they have insulin but it can't function properly because there is too much fat around the tummy.

Hannah Fishlock, community dietician at Swindon's Great Western Hospital, said referrals to the department had doubled in the last year.

She said: "The number of overweight or obese people in the town has gone up by a huge amount.

"People are definitely getting bigger, which is simply down to eating too much fat and sugar, and not exercising enough.

"Children nowadays view crisps and chocolates as normal snacks, rather than treats. They tend to sit in front of televisions and computer screens for hours on end. This also encourages people to eat junk food.

"Fat is an important part of a healthy, balanced diet, but people should be eating mono or polyunsaturated fates, not saturated animal fats.

"Food packaging can be hard to understand with the different quantities of fats and sugar, and some food labelled as low fat might just have increased amounts of sugar instead.

"A good indication that you are buying something with lower amounts of sugar is to look at the ingredients. If sugar comes in the first three of the list that means it contains high amounts."

Hannah said a typical healthy, balanced diet would consist of:

l Breakfast: Wholemeal toast with small amounts of unsaturated margarine and jam or marmalade, fruit juice, or a piece of fruit and cereals.

l Lunch: A sandwich with a lean meat filling or half fat cheese, such as half fat cheddar or cottage cheese, with fruit or chopped up raw vegetables to nibble instead of crisps.

l Dinner: Lean meat or fish, which should be baked or grilled, with a small helping of potatoes, either boiled or mashed, a good portion of vegetables, with a diet yoghurt for dessert.

If you have weight concerns visit your GP who may refer you to the dietician team.

Alex Emery