INCREASING obesity is threatening to derail plans to improve public health, a survey has revealed.

The lifestyle survey, by Tees Health Authority, has revealed a steep increase in the number of severely overweight people.

It runs completely against Government plans to improve the health of the population.

There is also concern about high levels of binge-drinking on Teesside.

More than 6,500 people filled in a questionnaire about their lifestyles in a bid to see whether health had improved in the area since the previous survey, in 1995.

While the new survey shows an increase in healthy eating and a slight reduction in smoking, there is alarm at the rise in people who are seriously overweight and a reduction in the number of people who take part in moderate or strenuous physical exercise.

The figures showed that 16 per cent of men and 18 per cent of women were obese, a condition which increases the risk of cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. This represents a 60 per cent increase on the 1995 figure.

Half of the men surveyed said they were inactive, compared to 36 per cent in 1995. There was a slightly smaller increase in activity among women, from 46 to 51 per cent.

Professor Paul Johnstone, director of public health for the health authority, said: "The Lifestyle Survey contains some encouraging results for us. However, it also shows that there is still plenty of work to be done to improve people's health on Teesside."

The survey reveals some encouraging improvements in relation to smoking.

Dr Mark Reilly, epidemiologist at the health authority and author of the survey, said: "It is the awareness of the risks of smoking that is really encouraging, and the fact there has been no increase in smoking."