HILLINGDON is the second most overweight borough in London, according to research by Public Health England.

The results show that 43.5% of Hillingdon residents are overweight, while 23.7% are considered obese.

Bromley is the only borough which contains more overweight people, with 43.8% considered a cause for concern.

Worryingly, the percentage of those believed to be overweight in Hillingdon is higher than the national average. Across the UK, 40.8% of the population are overweight, with 23% noted as obese.

Nigel Dicker, Deputy Director of Public Safety at Hillingdon Council, said councils had been working hard to tackle the long-standing problem of obesity since the transfer of public health responsibility to local government in April 2013.

He said: “We have also arranged a wide range of activities for residents throughout 2014 to get them more active and we are establishing programmes to improve diet and nutrition.

“There are many opportunities to encourage healthier lifestyles, with our excellent parks and outstanding leisure facilities, including the recentl- refurbished Highgrove Pool and Leisure Centre, and the outdoor gym facilities in our local parks.”