A £3 million funding package to boost efforts to cut levels of obesity has been announced by the Department of Health.

The cash will be targetted primarily at deprived areas and help train health workers to provide advice and support to those who want to lose weight.

Announcing the latest raft of funding, public health minister Melanie Johnson said: "Obesity has rapidly become a serious problem, with over half of the population recorded as either overweight or obese.

"It is essential that people eat healthily and stay active if they are to stave off the threat of killer diseases like cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and cancer.

"But we can't force people to be healthy nor tell them how to lead their lives.

"What we can do is provide them with the information, advice and support to make their own choices.

"And this job starts with the healthcare professionals."

Health workers will now receive the necessary training to get people thinking about the things they eat and how to be more active, and to support them in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, she added.

Research shows that GPs and other health staff are uncomfortable about raising the issue of weight with their patients and are not confident about the advice they should be giving, while doctors are not always aware of the services to which they can refer patients for help with weight loss.

A directory is being produced for primary care trusts, with details of training courses available in obesity prevention and management. One such service is the Counterweight Programme where experienced dieticians give nurses and GPs training and support over six months.

Almost a quarter of adults in the UK are estimated to be obese, and the estimated annual cost to the NHS at least £500m annually - and the wider economy £2 billion.