More than third of 12-year-olds are fat

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Ministers faced calls for a public health drive targeted at adolescents as it emerged that more than 21 per cent of 12-year-olds in the capital were clinically obese compared with 17 per cent nationwide.

The figures, compiled by the Tories from government data, reveal a further 15 per cent in the capital were classed by the NHS as "overweight".

In total, nearly 23,000 children, more than one in three of 12-year-olds in London, were deemed fat.

According to the Conservatives, the number of teenagers admitted to hospital nationwide for alcohol abuse has risen by 51 per cent since 2000 to nearly 12,700 a year, while admissions linked to smoking went up by 41 per cent to more than 16,200.

In London there were 424 admissions for alcohol abuse, up 46 per cent, and 914 for smoking, up 73 per cent.

The number of young people treated nationwide for sexually transmitted infections has risen by 21 per cent since 2003 to more than 53,000 annually, and abortions have gone up 15 per cent to 43,800 a year.

The cost of hospital treatment for teenagers is estimated at £130million per year - up from around £100million in 2000. But that figure does not include the bill for dealing with obese patients.

The Tories claimed the Government was creating a "teenage timebomb" by neglecting young people's health.

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said: "The NHS needs a robust strategy to improve public health ... with ring-fenced budgets and proper accountability. "

A Department of Health spokeswoman said clearer information was needed to tell people about the effect alcohol can have on children, adding: "For this reason the Chief Medical Officer is producing a new set of guidelines on young people and alcohol."