HEALTH bosses are calling on employers to provide healthier food in the workplace.
A task force has been set up at NHS North West to tackle obesity throughout the region.
Chiefs are urging business to take on guidance produced by the team.
Angela Towers, development manager for the task force, said: "It's not always easy to get access to healthy food in the workplace and achieve a balanced diet. High fat and sugary foods are often the norm.
"It is estimated that obesity is responsible for over 18 million sick days a year in the UK.
"And if the present trend in obesity continues, the annual cost to the economy will be £3.6billion a year by 2010."
The Task Force has now produced a regional food and health action plan to be launched this week.
A survey published this month showed one in six people in East Lancashire are obese and a third are overweight.
For more information visit wwwfoodandhealthnw.co.uk
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