Olympic champion James Cracknell has fired the starting gun on his bid to become an MP - but his race has started shakily after he praised North Korea's approach to tackling obesity.

A UN report released last month revealed damning statistics showing nearly half its population is going hungry due to food shortages.

But, appearing on Sky News, the two-time rowing gold medallist - who wants to run for Parliament to get Britain fitter - listed North Korea and Cuba as the only two countries in the world to have a 'handle on obesity.'

Aappearing on Sky News, James Cracknell listed North Korea and Cuba as the only two countries in the world to have a 'handle on obesity

His comments left presenters Sarah-Jane Mee and Jonathan Samuels (right) stunned, as the latter pointed out that many North Koreans are currently starving

Announcing his bid to become an MP, he said: 'You can either moan about it from the outside and not try to do anything, or go about and do it from the inside.

'If you think of the two countries that have a handle on obesity, what do you think they are?

Anchor Sarah-Jane Mee replied: 'Do you know what? I'm stumped there, I don't know.'

'North Korea and Cuba,' Cracknell replies. 'They're quite controlling on behavioural trends. It'll have to be worked and you'll have to get people to buy into it

Presenter Jonathan Samuels interjects: 'Well people are starving in North Korea. They're not obese because they haven't got any food.

A damning UN report showed more than 70 per cent of citizens in the secretive nation rely on food aid while most lack even basic healthcare provision or sanitation

Kim Jong-Un plans to 'accelerate' his nuclear and ballistic missile programme amid heightened tensions with the South and the US

James Cracknell (second from left) during his gold-winning race in the men's coxless four event during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games

Cracknell then stumbles over a repost to this, before saying: 'Exactly, but there's sanctions and everything else. But the example is behavioural change.'

Samuels' comments relate to a damning UN report that showed more than 70 per cent of citizens in the secretive nation rely on food aid while most lack even basic healthcare provision or sanitation.

The shocking report emerged as Kim Jong-Un outlined plans to 'accelerate' his nuclear and ballistic missile programme amid heightened tensions with the South and the US.

And Cracknell's praise for Kim's ability to keep his civilians from getting obese sparked outrage on social media.

One Twitter user wrote: 'Starving your people will do that.'

Another added: 'Ummmm by starvation!! That's not a "handle" on obesity. What a fool!!'

A further post said: 'Ethiopia in the Eighties had a handle on it too. What a ridiculous statement. '

And another poster took a more direct swipe at the leader, saying: 'Cant resist this - only because Kim eats it all and the rest get none!!!!'

It is not Cracnell's first attempt at politics, having failed to be elected as an MEP in the 2014 European Parliament election and also as a Conservative candidate for the Kensington seat for the 2015 general election.