OBESITY in women should be ranked up there with terrorism, natural disasters and influenza pandemics as risks to the nation, the UK’s chief medical officer has warned.

Dame Sally Davies made the extraordinary recommendation that female obesity should be included in “national risk planning” in her annual report to the government overnight.

The government’s top health adviser said action needs to be taken to stop obesity in women and across society “overwhelming” national health resources and reducing productivity.

“We must redouble our efforts to address education and environmental factors, across government, healthcare and wider society, while encouraging a greater degree of personal responsibility,” she said.

The UK government lists war, major terror attacks, droughts, heatwaves, storms and flu pandemics as things to watch in its 2015 national risk register. However Prof Davies said obesity in women is crucial to address as it can affect the outcome of pregnancies and even the health of grandchildren.

“This is a difficult message to convey, as it risks burdening women with guilt and responsibility, but I believe that it can also empower women to take positive steps like eating more healthily and taking more exercise. It is never too late to take action for a healthier lifestyle — for you and your family,” she said.

Obesity crises are threatening nations across the developed world, with estimates that more than 70 per cent of people across Europe could be deemed obese by 2025, according to the National Obesity Forum.

The condition is defined as having a Body Mass Index of more than 30 and is already seen in more than 25 per cent of UK men and women. A healthy weight range is deemed to be having a BMI between 18.5-24.9. In Australia, almost two in three adults are deemed overweight or obese — a major risk factor for cardio vascular disease, muscular conditions and some cancers.

Prof Davies used her fourth report to advocate for women’s health in a number of areas from menopause to incontinence and female genital mutilation. Eating disorders and pre-pregnancy health were also addressed, with a call to end the “myth” of “eating for two” in favour of focusing on a balanced diet filled with fruit and vegetables.

Her comments have been welcomed by obesity advocates, including the National Obesity Forum who said it was a shame it had taken so long for the message to get through. The UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science’s Nick Finer told The Times he hoped it would address the “laissez faire” attitude to a growing health “catastrophe”.

However some Conservative critics disagreed, saying ranking fat alongside terror was going too far.

The comments follow Public Health England’s recommendation of a “sugar tax” that would see a 10-20 per cent rise on sugary drinks backed by Jamie Oliver. The health body claims sugar makes up 12-15 per cent of UK diets, much of it hidden in sauces, cereals and alcohol.