Children and adults in the Braintree district are dangerously obese according to the latest government figures.

New data published by Public Health England also shows Braintree pensioners suffer a high number of hip fractures and the amount of excess winter deaths have increased sharply.

The latest figures show that 17.5 per cent of 10-11 year olds in the district are obese, putting them just below the national average of 18.9 per cent.

However, that number is still an increase on last year’s figure of 16.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, obesity in adults has hit 25 per cent, which is two points over the national figure of 23 per cent.

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