SPECIALISED beds, lifting equipment and custom-designed bathrooms are being installed at Western Sydney hospitals in response to some fattening figures.

More than 66 per cent of residents aged 18 or over in the Blacktown local government area are overweight or obese, the latest Western Sydney Local Health District figures reveal.

The figures are particularly alarming when compared to the rest of NSW, where 52.5 per cent of people aged 16 or over are classed as overweight or obese.

Despite initiatives being run in schools across NSW to combat the growing number of people being classed as obese, figures continue to paint a bleak picture of the area’s health.

WSLHD transition manager Peter Rophail said Mt Druitt Hospital already has a room specifically designed to accommodate patients weighing more than 12kg and up to 500kg.

media_camera Ambulance officer Neil Hargreaves showcase the larger ambulances and equipment introduced to deal with obese patients.

“The room was constructed as part of the recent hospital expansion and opened in 2014,” Mr Rophail said.

He said the new Clinical Services Building at Blacktown Hospital will open several similar rooms next year as part of renovations at the site.

“These rooms will include specialised beds, lifting equipment, as well as wider doorways and custom-designed bathrooms,” Mr ­Rophail said. “At both hospitals, a mix of furniture in public areas has been and will be provided, for visitors who may weigh more than 120kg.”

WSLHD Centre for Population Health deputy director Christine Newman said there were several risk factors which could lead to people becoming overweight or obese.

media_camera Figures show 29.2 per cent of women in Blacktown aged 18 and over are overweight. media_camera Figures are equally concerning for men, with 43.8 per cent overweight.

“Only 7.7 per cent of people are eating the recommended daily amount of vegetables while just over half (53.4 per cent) are eating the recommended daily serve of fruit,” Ms Newman said. “Exercise is another concern – only 54.1 per cent of people are engaging in the recommended daily level of physical activity.”

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Healthy living program officer Rochelle McCook recommends focusing on eating a balanced, nutritious diet and being physically active to achieve a healthy weight and reduce the risk of chronic disease.

“The key to losing extra body fat is to make small, healthy changes to eating and exercise habits,” Ms McCook said.

“Changes should be things that you can maintain as part of your lifestyle, that way you will lose weight and keep it off.

“Most adults should be consuming five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit every day.

“Fruit and vegetables are naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre and are also low in kilojoules. Meeting fruit and vegetable recommendations is very important to health. It can help with weight management, as well as reduce the risk of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer.”

media_camera Rochelle McCook says one of the main problems is people eating too much fatty and sugary food, and not enough vegetables. Picture: Peter Kelly

She said “BMI, waistline and scales all have their limitations in measuring health”.

“The best measurement is to track how your lifestyle habits measure up against recommendations,” she said.

“Look at whether you’re consuming five serves of vegetables daily, eating whole grains and limiting foods high in saturated fat, sugar and salt. People should also participate in moderate physical activity for at least 2.5 hours a week.

“The main problem is people eating too much so excess consumption of processed foods or foods high in saturated fat, sugar and salt, and drinks with added sugar.”