Report: Obesity on rise in Britain

London -- A new government study projects half of all Brits could be overweight in 25 years.

The Foresight program study determined that if the current trends in obesity continue unabated across Britain, 86 percent of all British men will be overweight within the next 15 years, The Telegraph said Sunday.

The study also found that within the next 20 years, 70 percent of all women in Britain will be considered overweight and half of those individuals will be obese according to medical standards.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said the new report shows exactly how large the obesity problem has become in Britain.

"For the first time, we are clear about the magnitude of the problem: we are facing a potential crisis on the scale of climate change, and it is in everybody's interest to turn things around," he said.

The British newspaper said obesity also appears to be a problem for the young as the study found that by 2050, half of all primary school boys will be considered obese.

© Copyright United Press International.