More than 1,600 people in Shropshire were classed as obese in the space of just 12 months, new figures have revealed.

A further 716 people were also found to have diabetes, a disease which can be triggered by being overweight, according to the figures collected from GPs’ surgeries.

The figures, which were obtained by the charity Diabetes UK, looked at the period of 2008/2009 to 2009/2010.

The figures revealed there were 1,133 more people in Telford & Wrekin classed as obese, while in the Shropshire Council area the number grew by 537.

Peter Shorrick, regional manager of Diabetes UK, said: “Once again we see a shocking rise in diabetes and obesity rates across the West Midlands.

“Many, but not all, people develop Type 2 diabetes because they are overweight or obese so we must keep up the mantra of ‘five fruit and veg a day’, encourage daily physical activity, and warn of the potentially devastating consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle.

“The obesity-fuelled Type 2 diabetes epidemic is a clear example of where the new coalition Government’s rhetoric of tackling health problems through prevention must be turned into action.

“Failure to act now means a bleak future of spiralling NHS costs and worsening public health.”

It has been estimated that people who fail to keep fit and active are costing Shropshire health services more than £7 million a year.

This is the amount Shropshire County Primary Care Trust and NHS Telford and Wrekin are estimated to spend on treating health conditions relating to physical inactivity.

Tackling obesity is a key priority for both trusts.

Earlier this year it was revealed about one in 10 children starting at primary schools in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin are obese

Statistics showed that in the academic year 2008/09 11.7 per cent of reception age children in Telford & Wrekin were classed as obese.

This is above the national average of 9.6 per cent but a 0.2 per cent fall on the previous year.

In Shropshire, 9.2 per cent children in the age range were classed as obese – just under the national average and two per cent lower than in the previous 12 months.

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris