Recent survey revealed that number of people getting weight loss surgery has increased by 40% from last year. Figures revealed that 2,724 cases of "bariatric surgery" including stomach stapling, gastric bypasses and sleeve gastrectomy were performed by NHS in 2007/08.  

The report by the NHS Information Centre also revealed that there has been 30% increase in overall hospital admissions for obesity from the previous year to 5,018.

Professor Philip James, of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, said that the number of people being treated by hospitals for obesity-related problems is just a small fraction of those that are eligible.

He added: "The NHS just does not have the capacity and staff trained to deal with this."

The number of NHS prescriptions to treat obesity increased by 16% to 1.23 million from 2006 to 2007.

Survey revealed that 16% of women and 13% of men were classed as obese in 1993 but the figure stood at 24% for both by 2007.  

Dawn Primarolo, Public health minister said obesity was the "biggest health challenge" facing the country.