ADULTS from the North-East and Scotland are the most likely to assume they are overweight rather than clinically obese and at risk of major health problems, according to a new survey.

The results were part of a major survey involving more than 14,000 adults conducted in seven Western European countries, including the regions of the UK.

It reveals that many Britons are unaware of their true weight and yet despite this 71 per cent report know someone who is obese.

The study also found that less than a fifth of UK residents identify obesity as a disease - the lowest proportion in Europe, even though doctors are increasingly viewing obesity as a medical condition which requires a variety of treatment options.

The statistics showed that 44 per cent of adults in the North-East thought they were overweight when they were actually clinically obese - compared to a UK average of 36 per cent.

More than half of Britons surveyed agreed that obesity surgery may be the most appropriate solution, with the highest proportion of those taking this view from the North-East.

The results also showed that Britons have a higher level of awareness than many on the continent about the health risks of being too heavy, including related problems like diabetes, heart disease, depression and high blood pressure.

The World Health Organisation recently projected that 74 per cent of men and 64 per cent of women in the UK will be overweight by 2030.

Professor Pinki Sahota, deputy chair of the Association for the Study of Obesity, said the survey “confirms much greater effort is needed to educate people about obesity and its impact on health”.