Scientists who have recommended that the daily intake of calories should be increased are "irresponsible" and will only serve to exacerbate the "public health disaster" that is obesity, according to a medical expert.

Dr David Ashton, medical director at Healthier Weight and a UK obesity expert, said: "Sending out a message to eat more is highly irresponsible given that most of us need no encouragement to consume more calories; we've been doing it for decades."

His comments follow the release of a draft report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, which recommended that the daily intake of calories could be increased by up to 16 per cent.

Dr Ashton added that, although this is technically correct for a small number of people, the scientists who prepared the report should have acknowledged that it would be interpreted as a "green light for everyone to eat more".

Obesity is fast becoming the developed world's biggest health problem, according to the NHS. It said that obesity causes over 9,000 deaths a year in England.

Combating obesity requires a healthy, balanced diet and regular exercise. Women can take simple steps such as donning ladies fitness wear and following an exercise DVD a few times a week to avoid putting on excess weight.
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