Worrying figures reveal the number of obese patients being admitted to St Helier and Epsom hospitals has more than tripled since 2008.

A freedom of information request to the trust shows that in April 2008 just 391 patients admitted were classed as obese but by April 2012 it had soared to 1330.

A total of 29 children admitted to the hospitals last year were classed as obese.

The depth of registering obese patients at the Epsom and St Helier trust has increased over the years which might help to explain the huge increase but the figures show an overwhelmingly stark picture of spiralling obesity locally.

The request also revealed in 2008 the trust bought four specialist bariatric beds catering for patients weighing up to 450kgs and at a cost of £36,495.

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Dr Ellis Friedman, the director of public health in Sutton, said the rates were increasing in Sutton at a similar rate to the rest of London and the UK.

He said: "It is a worrying trend because being overweight is associated with many health problems, such as high blood pressure.

"The revised Joint Health and Wellbeing strategy will be presented to the June meeting of Sutton’s Health and Wellbeing Board. It will include a target to stop the increase in adult obesity.

"This will be addressed by implementing a multi-agency, evidence-based anti-obesity strategy which will address both individual behaviour and the environment."

Britain’s obesity epidemic hit the headlines earlier this year when the Health and Social Care Centre released statistics revealing 65 per cent of men and 58 per cent of women now classed as overweight or obese.

Further investment into the care of obese patients is expected at the trust as part of £9m improvements.

This includes £30,000 on bariatric equipment and £21,723 for a cooling system for St Helier hospital during 2013-14.

A further £25,000 will be spent at Epsom hospital on bariatric equipment.

A spokesperson from the National Obesity Forum, a charity which raises awareness of the emerging obesity epidemic, said: “The rise in the hospital admissions is not surprising and is deeply concerning.  

"It is an unfortunate truth that although obesity levels may be diminishing across the country, the fatter are getting fatter with more needing hospital treatment. 

"The fact that hospital beds now have to withstand 450kg illustrates the enormity of the problem."