Obesity is 'biggest threat to women's health and should be treated as national priority'

Full video report by ITV News correspondent Nina Nannar

Obesity is the biggest threat to women's health and should be treated as a "national priority", England's chief medical officer has warned.

Dame Sally Davies said women should be "empowered" to live healthier lives in her annual report, as she spoke of the risk to future generations.

She has called for the government to include obesity in its national risk planning - putting it the same category as terrorism, flooding and major outbreaks of disease.

Her report said more than half of women aged 34 to 44 and almost two-thirds of women aged 45 to 54 were classified as overweight or obese in 2013.

"Obesity has to be a national priority," she said.

"Action is required across all of society to prevent obesity and its associated problems from shortening women's lives and affecting their quality of life.

"We need to address the educational and environmental factors that cause obesity and empower women and their families to live healthier lives."

Dame Sally also said she wanted to "bust the myth" that women should eat for two during pregnancy.

Research has shown that overweight pregnant women are more at risk of miscarrying and premature birth.

Expectant mothers, she said, should focus on a healthy diet, exercise, not smoking and avoiding alcohol.

"It is never too late to take action for a healthier lifestyle - for you and your family."

Figures from Public Health England show how obesity in men compares to women.

In the report, Dame Sally also calls for:

  • better treatment for ovarian cancer to boost survival rates

  • greater awareness of problems "below the waist" such as incontinence or the menopause

  • medical staff to be better-trained to spot the signs of gender-based violence and female genital mutilation

Tam Fry from the National Obesity Forum charity, told ITV News the previous Labour government had been warned about the obesity epidemic in 2002, and that and future government's have failed to effectively tackle the issue.

Fitness expert Jenny Burrell, who helps pregnant women to stay healthy, said women who are inclined to exercise while pregnant are still in the minority. She added that it hasn't gotten through to everybody that when pregnant you don't need to eat for two.