SOUTHAMPTON has been named among the fattest places in the UK.

Figures released today puts the city in the top ten of places in the country with high levels of obesity, based on medical records.

Now city bosses are hitting back in the battle of the bulge by launching a city wide-campaign aimed at making Southampton healthier. A roadshow is being launched next week which will see health professionals hammer home the message of the importance of leading healthy lifestyles.

The latest obesity study from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) pulled together records from hospital admissions throughout the country.

Out of every 100,000 people in Southampton there were 1,755 admissions where medics recorded a ''primary or secondary'' diagnosis of obesity.

That is more than double the national average of 811 per 100,000 admissions.

In Hampshire that figure was 629, and 1,180 on the Isle of Wight.

The statistics put Southampton in seventh place for the highest levels of obesity in the UK.

Southampton's Public Health department has published its own figures which show the extent of the health problems in the city and comes just two weeks after more than 8,000 pounded the city's streets for the city's Half Marathon and 10K.

Around 65per cent of adults in Southampton are estimated to be overweight or obese whilst less than 25 per cent of adults participate in the recommended 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise three times a week.

In addition over 22 per cent of people in the city smoke whilst 2,750 admissions to hospital were related to alcohol in the city in 2014/15.

In response, the city is launching the 'One You' roadshow which will be travelling across Southampton next week to inspire residents to think differently about their health and make positive changes to their lifestyle.

Free advice and guidance on healthy eating and exercise along with giving up smoking and cutting back on alcohol will be given out at shopping centres and precincts next week.

They will also be testing BMI (Body Mass Index) measurements, blood pressure readings and carrying out CO (Carbon Monoxide) testing.

The city has long been waging a battle against the bulge with the Daily Echo previously reporting how high levels of childhood obesity meant one in five children were classed overweight when they started school.

Those figures get increasingly worse with one third of children classed as overweight by the time they reach the end of their primary education in Year 6.

In 2010 a study by Southampton City Council estimated the obesity 'epidemic' was costing the city £147m every year, leading to them draw up an action plan to tackle the crisis.

Six years on and the man in charge of health for the city Councillor David Shields admitted more needed to be done.

He said that there continued to be a direct link with families living in the more deprived areas of the city and high levels of obesity, meaning the impact of recent austerity measures and cuts to social care budgets had added to the problem.

Cllr Shields said: "We need to arrest this growing trend of children being overweight which then continues into young adulthood. We are simply stacking up the problems for later if we don't tackle it with early intervention and education.

"We need to look at things like planning controls, for example , like fast food outlets near to schools and also things like promoting and building walkways and cycleways for people to be able to walk or cycle around the city rather than take the car.

"I don't think it is a lack of opportunity for people not to become more active with things like the SkyRide and the Half Marathon now being staged here. I think it is about doing what we can to make change lifestyle behaviour. I will certainly be looking to direct more of the public health and better care budget into early intervention and prevention to stop the problem stacking up for future generations.".

Sarah Weld, Public Health Consultant at Southampton City Council, said: “The only way to lose weight healthily and keep it off is to make permanent changes to the way you eat and exercise. A few small alterations, such as eating less and choosing drinks that are lower in fat, sugar and alcohol, can help you lose weight. There are also plenty of ways to make physical activity part of your daily life.”

Commenting on the figures, Tam Fry, spokesman for the National Obesity Forum, said: ''The tragedy of such figures is that in 2013 local councils everywhere were never allocated sufficient funds to tackle the problem by Westminster and, in addition, have had to cope with further cuts to their general budgets."

A spokesman for the Department for Health said: "Over the next five years we will invest more than £16 billion in local government public health services, in addition to what the NHS will continue to spend on vaccinations, screening and other preventative interventions — including the world's first national diabetes prevention programme. We believe in the values of the NHS and have backed its own plan for the future with a £10 billion increase in its budget."

The Wirral topped the table for the most amount of admissions where patients were classed as obese, with 2,894 patients recorded out of 100,000.

At the other end of the scale was Richmond where 238 people who were admitted to hospital in every 100,000 were recorded as obese.

The 'One You' Roadshow will be visiting the following locations in Southampton next week:

Bitterne Precinct, Wednesday May 11 from 9am to 4pm.

High Street, City Centre, Thursday May 12 from 10am to 5pm

Shirley Precinct, Friday May 13 from 10am to 5pm.