THERE were thousands of hospital admissions for patients with obesity in Warrington last year, according to new figures.

It comes as the number of admissions for obesity rose across England.

New NHS Digital figures show obesity was the primary or secondary cause of around 6,605 hospital admissions for patients in Warrington in the 2023 financial year.

This was up from the year before, when there were around 6,330 admissions.

Nationally, admissions have increased 8 per cent since last year, when there were 1.1 million recorded.

Campaign group Action on Sugar said this is evidence of ‘a growing public health challenge’ and called for the Government to take action against unhealthy food advertising.

Earlier this month the Government confirmed it will introduce legislation to ban companies advertising products deemed high in fat, salt and sugar on TV before 9pm.

It will also include a total ban on paid-for online adverts for these products.

The ban, which was first proposed by Boris Johnson in 2021, will come into force in October 2025.

Dr Kawther Hashem, head of research and impact at Action on Sugar, said: "The rise in obesity and the unhealthy food environment we are surrounded with are key contributing factors which need to be urgently addressed by the Government.

"This must include introducing the delayed restrictions on unhealthy food advertising, expanding on the success of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy to unhealthy food products and improving nutritional labelling on products.

"Now, more than ever, do we need a food environment that ensures more healthier options are available, accessible and affordable to everyone."

The figures also reveal how many prescriptions were issued for Orlistat, a treatment for obesity available on the NHS that prevents some fat consumed from being absorbed by the body.

Across the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board there were 23,769 Orlistat prescriptions issued in the year ending March 2023, or nine for every 1,000 people.

This was a 13 per cent increase over the last year.

Across England, prescriptions have risen by 12 per cent over the same period.