OVERWEIGHT people are costing the health service more than £68million a year in Plymouth alone, it has been revealed.

And the city's overweight and obesity bill is set to rocket to £76million in the next seven years unless urgent action is taken.

The Local Government Association, which represents over 400 councils in England and Wales, has warned that the obesity time-bomb could lead to a rise in council tax as public services, including transport and home care, are put under increasing pressure.

New figures show, for the first time, the cost of obesity to every Primary Care Trust in England.

The statistics reveal that the estimated annual cost to the NHS in Plymouth of diseases related to being overweight and obese was £68.5million in 2007, rising to £76million in 2015 unless something is done.

Nationally the cost of being overweight or obese cost the health service £4.2billion in 2007, and threatens to rise to £6.3billion in 2015.

The figures are set out in a new 'Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives toolkit: A Toolkit for Developing Local Strategies', which is available to all PCTs and councils to help them tackle obesity in their areas and help people live healthier lives.

The report says that parents don't recognise that their children are overweight, and underestimate how much junk food they buy.

It also says that many families use snacks as rewards, and to see off boredom, or avoid squabbles.

Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said: "Obesity is the biggest health challenge we face – every year 9,000 people die prematurely.

"And many people simply just don't know that being overweight can lead to major health problems including heart disease and cancer."

A campaign is being launched to change the way people eat, exercise, and raise their children in a bid to prevent obesity and related diseases.

Dr Gill Lewendon, consultant in public health with NHS Plymouth, said: "Tackling increasing obesity levels in Plymouth has been a priority for NHS Plymouth and Plymouth City Council.

"We've worked together with local voluntary and statutory agencies on a range of initiatives to encourage local people to live a healthier lifestyle."

Welcoming additional support from government, Dr Lewendon said: "For very overweight and obese people we already offer a comprehensive community weight management programme for people of all ages.

"The community weight management clinic in Devonport was established in 2006 when it was one of just three in the country based within the community.

"It is managed by NHS Plymouth and now runs across several sites in Plymouth including Brickfields, the Local Care Centre at Mount Gould and the Cumberland Centre."

Since the clinic started two years ago, more than 200 people have undertaken the 16-week course encouraging them to lead healthier lives. For children there has been a free 10 week programme (MEND) aimed at improving diet, fitness levels and overall health. Youngsters and their families can refer themselves onto the programme.

Dr Lewendon added: "Our local success in helping tackle obesity was recognised by Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo earlier this year who reported how impressed she was with the enthusiasm of all those involved in Plymouth's weight management clinic.

"In particular Ms Primarolo commended Plymouth as a great example of an effective support service, with strong local partnerships, encouraging healthier, more active lifestyles in the local community."

For details about the MEND programme in Plymouth contact 01752 434623.

Obesity is usually measured in terms of a person's BMI – their weight in kilograms, divided by their height in metres squared.

In the UK, people with a BMI between 25 and 30 are categorised as overweight, and those with an index above 30 are categorised as obese.

People with a BMI of 40 or more are described as morbidly obese.