In the latest of startling reports on obesity, parliament has heard today that the number of people who are obese has tripled in the last 20 years and continues to rise, with one in five adults in England now obese.

Head of the National Audit Office, Sir John Bourn, told the government the findings of the NAO's Tackling Obesity in England report and put forward recommendations to combat the rising issue. The report recommends that cross-governmental collaboration between the Departments of Health, Culture, Media and Sport, and Education and Employment to encourage a healthier diet and more physical activity as long term changes in lifestyle.

The report estimates that obesity accounts for 18 million sickness days in England per year and 30,000 premature deaths in 1998, with each obesity-related death estimated to shorten life-span by nine years. The treatment of obesity is costing the NHS at least £0.5bn a year with the costs including lower productivity and lost output estimated at a further £2bn a year. Sir John estimates that if the trend is not bucked, one in four adults will be obese by 2010, causing endemic levels of coronary heart disease and costing the economy £3.5bn a year.

Sir John is optimistic that while the prevalence of obesity is a serious problem, the issue can be tackled: There are no easy solutions to the problem but progress is possible. There is scope to do more to promote healthier lifestyles and improve NHS services for the increasing number of people whose health is at risk from excess weight.