£90bn cost of 'obesity epidemic'

THE cost of Britain's obesity epidemic has soared to £90billion a year - more than 14 times previous government estimates, analysis shows.

- By Lucy Johnston SOCIAL AFFAIRS EDITOR

The figure, which is twice the UK's defence budget, will be unveiled at a parliamentary meeting on Tuesday.

Experts say the official NHS claim that obesity costs it £6.5billion annually is a gross underestimate.

The revised figure will be presented to MPs at a session of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Food, Diet and Obesity by health campaigner Steve Bennett.