NHS staff urged to tell people they are fat not obese

Anne Milton said the the term fat was more likely to motivate people into losing weight, adding it was important people took "personal responsibility" for their lifestyles.

Stressing she was speaking in a personal capacity, she said: "If I look in the mirror and think I am obese I think I am less worried (than) if I think I am fat."

Too many staff working in the NHS were worried about using the term, Ms Milton said, but suggested it could help encourage "personal responsibility".

She added: "At the end of the day you cannot do it for them. People have to have the information."

It comes as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) published guidelines on pregnancy, saying NHS staff are dealing with "an epidemic of obesity" among pregnant women.

Also yesterday, the Government confirmed it is ditching plans for a review of the smoking ban, which could have seen it extended to pub doorways and beer gardens.

Ms Milton said there would be no review as promised by the previous Government following legislation in 2007.

The issue of whether the ban should be extended to beer gardens and pub doorways was expected to have formed part of the review.

"We are not rolling back the smoking ban, nor are we deploying austerity as an excuse for deregulation," Ms Milton told health experts in central London.

"Instead, we have studied the smokefree legislation and decided not to proceed with the planned review because we feel the legislation is working.

"We will keep working on the evidence base for tobacco control, and will say more about our plans in the public health white paper."

The Government is currently considering whether to reverse a ban – brought in under Labour – on cigarette vending machines and tobacco displays in shops.

A law was passed by MPs in October but the regulations needed to implement the changes have not come into force and may not be introduced by the current Government.

Health campaigners have reacted angrily, calling on the Government not to scrap the law.

They say children's health must come before the needs of retailers, who have expressed worries about the financial impact.

Dangers lurking in our homes

Dirty homes are harbouring bacteria which could cause a range of health problems.

A study found bathroom seals, fridges, kitchen towels and kettle handles were some of the most contaminated spots in British homes.

Hygiene Council experts took swabs from 20 homes in nine countries worldwide.

Samples in Britain revealed that 80 per cent of bathroom seals were unsatisfactory or heavily contaminated.

The second dirtiest site was inside fridges, with 35 per cent of samples unsatisfact-ory and 15 per cent heavily contaminated with bacteria.

Cloth kitchen towels were a source of contamination, with 20 per cent unsatisfact-ory or heavily contaminated.

Kettle handles were dirtier than computer keyboards – 22 per cent failed bacterial tests compared with 19 per cent of keyboards.

The Hygiene Council receives funding from Dettol.