One East Lancashire town has been named as one of the most obese places in the UK, with almost three quarters of adults dangerously overweight.

Burnley ranked 10th in a list of the fattest places in the country, with 73.4 per cent of adults classed as overweight or obese.

Being overweight or obese puts strain on your body and its organs and is one of the biggest preventable causes of illness and death.

Treatment for obesity-related illnesses is also putting an increased strain on the NHS.

Losing weight is very simple process, by eating less calories than your body needs to function and by moving more, but many people’s diets are simply to unhealthy for them to be able to shift weight and live a happier, healthier life.

Obesity is a global crisis, and is of particular concern with the very high levels of obesity in children seen across communities, but particularly in deprived areas.

Such is the level of the problem, weight loss drugs are now being prescribed by the NHS and made available through pharmacies.

The most obese place in England is Thurrock in Essex, where 76.3 per cent of adults are fat. In second is Stockton-on-Tees in the North East, where 75.8 per cent of adults are overweight or obese.

Also in the top 10 are Tamworth in the Midlands, Hartlepool in the North East, Merseyside’s Knowsley, North East Derbyshire, Wigan, Cannock Chase in the Midlands, and Harlow in Essex.

Boston in Lincolnshire tied for 10th on the list with Burnley.

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At the other end of the list, Islington in London had the lowest number – but ‘least high’ is a more apt description as the rate of obesity there is 44 per cent – still almost half of all adults being at an unhealthy weight.

The data has been compiled by online healthcare management service Now Patient, which also provided a list of easy ways to lose weight.

  • Daily walks – doing 8,00 to 12,000 steps a day is an easy, way to boost activity levels and burn around 300 to 400 calories, without getting a sweat on in the gym or by going for a run. Getting out for an hour a day also gets you some Vitamin D, fresh air, and can be a mental as well as physical health boost.
  • Calorie deficit – the foundation stone of losing weight. Eat less calories than your body burns. Online calculators can give you a rough Base Metabolic Rate (how many calories your body burns just to survive) and just eat less calories than that and you will lose weight. It is really that simple.
  • Eat more protein – Protein is the building block for muscle, if you eat more protein (at least 1g per kg of bodyweight a day) your body will maintain its muscle and use fat stores for energy, helping to lose weight. It also fills you up meaning you’re less likely to snack or binge eat.
  • Eat more vegetables – Veg is packed with nutrients and low on calories, so you can eat a lot of it and feel full up without eating a tonne of calories. Getting five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is easy and will help you lose weight and improve your overall health.
  • Be in it for the long haul – Weight loss takes time, so if you don’t see immediate results don’t be disheartened. Losing one to two pounds a week is perfectly sustainable and after six months adds up to some major results.