The committee also called for a crackdown on the black market for weight-loss drugs, saying the lack of availability on the NHS had driven people to buy unlicenced products online.

It wants a public awareness campaign to warn about the dangers, along with a review to look at how better to regulate online advertising.

The MPs also criticised the wider system of weight-loss services, saying they were poorly designed and resourced.

They want people to have better access to diet and lifestyle courses and bariatric (obesity) surgery.

Moran said obesity should be treated as a serious health condition, like diabetes.

"People can spend their entire lives battling with their weight. We say the NHS should provide effective, structured support to beat obesity for all those who seek it.…