More than 100 obese people in South Wales needed to be rescued by firefighters after becoming stuck in their homes.
Across the UK, firefighters and paramedics assisted almost 2,000 obese people between January 2013 and May 2015.
During that time, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service completed 106 rescues - putting it second highest in the country.
London was the only other region to surpass that amount with 180 rescues. The third highest region was Scotland with 95, followed by Lancashire with 89 and Mid and West Wales Fire Service attending 81.
Data from Freedom of Information requests showed that 5,565 firefighters attended 1,866 incidents from January 2013 to May this year.
Figures 'likely to be higher'
In some cases, specialist equipment was used to take out windows and help undertakers to remove bodies. Not every fire service in the UK provided firefighter figures or gave information in the same time frame so the figures are likely to be higher.
Dewi Rose, head of operations at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: ”Of the 106 bariatric incidents attended in South Wales between January 2013 and May 2015, not all rescues involve ambulances or medical evacuation and in some cases the person remained in their home following our assistance. However, the service does not comment on individual cases.
“Nationally there is now a greater understanding of how to deal with incidents involving bariatric persons and to identify which of the services is best placed to assist at each incident. The service continues to work with all its partners to ensure we meet the needs of all of our community”.
The highest profile rescue operation of this kind in Wales involved Georgia Davis who was once dubber “Britain’s fattest teenager", who was rescued from her home in Aberdare in April.
'Generational issue'
The 22-year-old was taken from her flat in a reported seven-hour operation and transported to hospital where she was treated for a severe infection. At the time of the rescue, Georgia was reportedly bedridden and weighed 60 stone.
It is understood French doors at the front of the specially-adapted property were removed to allow crews to lift her from the ground-floor flat into an ambulance using a high amperage crane.
Kieron Gough, a Slimming World group manager in the Cynon Valley , believes the obesity problem in South Wales is a “generational” issue.
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He said: “Unfortunately, when you think about 20-years-ago people would have fish and chips with the family once a month now it’s far more easier to get fast food than it is to prepare a meal.
"I think there’s definitely a lack of education, starting from young ages and until we correct that I don’t think we will be able to solve the problem.
“There are now 60% of men in Wales who are overweight and that statistic is going to keep on growing and it is all to do with the preparation of food and the lifestyle they lead.
"There’s more public transport and more people are driving to work and you don’t tend to see children out and about playing on the streets. That generational gap has a huge impact upon that.”
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/more-100-obese-people-south-10664428
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