THREE in ten adults in the region are obese, new figures show.

And the number of people in Yorkshire & the Humber who are obese now outnumbers smokers by two to one.

The statistics have been unveiled by Cancer Research UK, which is urging the Government to take action to tackle obesity.

The charity has also launched a campaign across the region to raise awareness of the link between obesity and cancer. Posters featuring images inspired by old-fashioned cigarette packs will be on display at locations including train stations, bus stops and billboards.

Cancer Research UK is pressing the Government to act on an ambition to halve childhood obesity rates by 2030 and introduce a 9pm watershed for junk food adverts on TV and online.

Professor Linda Bauld, for the charity, said: “There isn’t a silver bullet to reduce obesity, but the huge fall in smoking over the years – partly thanks to advertising and environmental bans – shows that Government-led change works.”