British women now fattest in western Europe

BRITISH women are the fattest in western Europe, a study by Imperial College London has revealed.

They have an average body mass index (BMI) of 26.9, far higher than the 24.1 among Swiss women and 24.8 in both Italy and France.

However, they remain far lighter than women in countries such as the Cook Islands and Nauru, in the South Pacific, where the BMI is 33.9 and 35 respectively.

Adults with a BMI of more than 25 are considered overweight, while those with a figure above 30 are officially classed as obese.