'Sheffield is sweet enough' - Adults and children urged to cut down on sugar in bid to tackle obesity and tooth decay

The percentage of people overweight or obese in Sheffield comes in at 60 percent, which is below the national average of 62 percent.

It also beats other places in the region such as Doncaster which sits at 71.5 percent.

But the authority is keen to keep residents as healthy as possible and say the local figures are still too high.

The ‘Sheffield is sweet enough’ campaign will run over the next five years to help families, schools and medical staff tackle the issue.

Councillor Mary Lea, cabinet member for leisure, said: “Sheffield has high levels of obesity and tooth decay and we see a large variation across the city.

“Being overweight and having a poor diet impacts on children’s physical and emotional wellbeing and overall life chances.

She added: “We believe that Sheffield is sweet enough and with a few small changes, we can all reduce our sugar intake, so that eventually these healthy habits become part of daily life.”

Sheffield Council is cracking down on sugar with a campaign that aims to reduce obesity and tooth decay in children and adults.

Nearly one in four children are overweight or obese when they start school in Sheffield, according to the council.

Statistics from the NHS show admissions to hospital where obesity was a factor have increased significantly since 2013.

Yorkshire and the Humber increased higher than the national average while Sheffield stayed below the trend. Doncaster, however, had risen sharply and was higher than the regional and national averages.

Admissions directly attributed to obesity were higher in Sheffield than the regional average but still lower than the national average.

NHS England said in its latest obesity report: "Eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain, which increases the risk of heart disease, type two diabetes, stroke and some cancers.”

The campaign was officially launched on February 4 at Woodthorpe Community Primary School.