A quarter of toddlers aged two-and-a-half in Glasgow are overweight, new figures have revealed.

The statistics also show 5% of children of that age across Greater Glasgow are obese, sparking a warning from NHS bosses about the importance of tackling the issue.

The problem of overweight and obese children is a "public concern", with the burden currently falling hardest on children and young people from deprived areas, according to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC).

Obesity rates in primary one pupils have increased in recent years, with 22% being classified as overweight or obese in 2012/13. More than half of them live in Glasgow.

Children in areas of deprivation are twice as likely to be obese by the time they are five, rising to three times more likely by the age of 11.

The level of overweight children, although stabilising, are much higher than in previous decades.

Director of public health at NHSGGC, Dr Linda de Caestecker, stressed the importance of ongoing work in preventing and managing overweight children and obesity.

She said: "A long-term, sustainable approach is required to address child healthy weight issues across our population.

"It is important that we tackle obesity in young people as they are the group most likely to develop lifelong obesity.

"The effects of poor diets across Greater Glasgow and Clyde are now having an impact on long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers which contribute to the area's poor health record.

"People are aware of obesity, but we still have work to do in helping them take the right steps to either avoid it or tackle the effects."

The board is now drafting a framework which identifies key areas for intervention at each life stage.

Data from 2014 highlights that 36% of Scottish 12-15 year olds are overweight and obese, with 13% morbidly obese.

The most rapid period of weight gain when young people turn from overweight to obese happens between the ages of 15-25, with obese teenagers likely to become obese adults.

Dr de Caestecker added: "We have evidence from a number of surveys that some of our young people are leading increasingly unhealthy lifestyles that, if they continue, will lead to poor health outcomes in later life.

"Successfully tackling child overweight and obesity requires the involvement of families, schools and communities as well as public and private agencies.

"The focus must be on prevention as well as the management of weight gain from pregnancy through to childhood and into adulthood."

The board currently operates three weight management programmes for children and young people.