IT IS a problem that continues to grow and grow.

Today’s revelation that nearly two-thirds of people in Hampshire are overweight or obese shows the scale of the crisis facing health chiefs in the county.

As we report today on page 7, obesity costs the NHS more than £5billion a year nationally.

And there seems to be no sign of the situation improving.

Again there have been the usual calls for action, from bans on TV adverts for unhealthy foods and redesigning towns and cities to encourage people to walk and cycle more to ensuring everyone has access to highquality sports facilities and green spaces.

All these things and more are likely to be needed.

We rightly cherish our freedoms in this country, and one of those is the freedom to consume things that are not good for us, provided they are legal.

But as the seemingly relentless campaign against smoking shows, we can be weened off our addictions when the will of the politicians and the individual unite for the benefit of all.