According to the Department of Health two-thirds of UK adults are overweight and it insists urgent action is required to bring this figure down.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson plans to lead a national "movement" on obesity and is urging employers to take an active role in efforts to combat it.
Speaking at an event organised by the Fabian Society, he said: "Tackling obesity requires a much broader partnership, not only with families, but with employers, retailers, the leisure industry, the media, local government and the voluntary sector."
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The government has already sought to encourage employers to take responsibility for the health of their employees with the launch of its Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives campaign in January.
It recommended that employers put staff health at the centre of their business strategy and offer incentives to workers to encourage activity.
Meanwhile, an American office furniture manufacturer has launched a new product that aims to improve workers’ fitness levels by combining a treadmill and a computer workstation in one.
