Campaigners have called for the food industry to be given stricter rules – as global obesity is growing at a super fast rate.

The campaigners say that obesity actually poses a greater global risk than cigarettes.

The two organisations – Consumers International and the World Obesity Federation – say governments around the world should impose compulsory rules for the food industry.

These could include pictures on food packaging of damage caused by obesity, similar to those on cigarette packets.

They say new rules could include reducing the levels of salt, saturated fat and sugar in food, improving food served in hospitals and schools, imposing stricter advertising controls, and educating the public about healthy eating.

Governments could review food prices, introduce taxes, change licensing controls and start new research to make this happen, the groups argue.

Advertising to young people during TV programmes such as the X-Factor, must also be restricted, they say.