Health problems triggered by poor diets and couch potato lifestyles cost taxpayers in Oxfordshire an estimated £143m last year.

The figure covers Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust's bill for treating illnesses like diabetes and types of cancer associated with being overweight or obese.

The figure works out as the equivalent of £225 per man, woman and child living in the county.

In February this year, the 61-year-old was referred to slimming classes after weighing 17st 2lb — a clinically obese weight.

Today, she weighs 13st 4lb after cutting out junk food and beginning to take regular exercise.

Her blood pressure and cholesterol have also been reduced.

The Department of Health — which released an estimated breakdown of what every English PCT spent on tackling fat-related illnesses — said it expected the figure to grow to £149m per year by 2010 and £159m by 2015 if nothing was done.

Dieticians, lifestyle experts and patients whose health has suffered because of overeating, said education was the key to improving dining habits and reducing the figure.

Gill Jackson, a Slimming World diet consultant based at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, said: "I am horrified because it is a huge amount of money we shouldn't have to be spending — the money could be going on someone else.

"All those people are suffering when they need not be."

Ms Jackson said more than 30 people a week are referred to her by GPs after their weight led to health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes and bad backs.

She said: "I think people have really forgotten how to eat properly in modern life.

"We are all rushing around and eating convenient food, which has got lots more calories for how full up it makes you.

"The Government needs to re-educate people on how to eat and to encourage them to increase their moderate exercise."

Oxfordshire's bill for over-eating and poor exercise routines is larger than neighbouring areas like Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire, East Berkshire and West Berkshire, which spent £132 million, £107 million, £114 million, £91 million and £104 million respectively in 2007.

The county's costs were £300,000 less than Gloucestershire and £25 million down on Northamptonshire PCT— but well above the average of £91 million for English primary care trusts in 1997.

Kate King, health improvement practitioner for Oxfordshire PCT, said some kidney, breast and colon cancer was caused by poor diets.

She said: "The number of people getting Type II diabetes as a result of being overweight and obese will be increasing.

"At the moment, people are waking up to the problem, but I think it is still very much on the minds of people who work in health, rather than the general population."

Cowley mother-of-three Zena Hurn, 49, lost a staggering 18 stone after paying £12,000 for private gastric bypass surgery two years ago.

She was told by her doctor she would die within three years if she did not have the operation.

Previous gym sessions, funded by Oxfordshire PCT, had proved ineffective as they conflicted with her working hours, she said.

Mrs Hurn, pictured above with one of the dresses she used to wear, and right before starting her diet, said the PCT needed to change attitudes to food among young people."

She added: "I don't think it is enough money. I think they should do more work with children in schools.

"The more money they spend on it the better.

"They could spend more money on getting children earlier and changing their views before they get into bad habits.

"Once people have lost weight they are not going to want the doctors and the medication so much."