CHOCOHOLICS have been asked to go easy on the number of eggs they consume over Easter to help cut obesity and tooth decay.

Bolton families have been urged to ration the number of chocolate eggs they give to their youngsters after new figures found UK children consume the equivalent of one week's worth of calories over Easter.

Bolton GP and health campaigner Dr Zahid Chauhan warned that over-indulgence could increase the serious oral health problems across the town.

The call comes five months after a £1.5 million action plan was launched to improve children's oral health in Bolton, Salford, Rochdale and Oldham.

The investment, announced by Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, aims to reduce the number of children aged five and under affected by tooth decay.

Dr Chauhan said: "Many of us love chocolate but it is full of fat and soaked in sugar, so moderation is a must.

"I have enormous sympathy for people with eating disorders and would urge them to utilise the NHS counselling and nutritional advice available. But as for the rest of us, consuming over 10,000 calories over the Easter period is a recipe for serious illness and rotting, damaged teeth."

There are 80 million Easter eggs eaten in Britain every year, with the country ranked an unhealthy fourth in the world for chomping chocolate.

Dr Chauhan said he is concerned about the impact this consumption is having on heart disease and diabetes rates in Bolton.

He warned that chocolate is a calorie-heavy foodstuff that can lead to weight gain and cause other health problems if eaten in excess. It is also high in sugar content which can lead to cavities, gum disease and a blood sugar rise among diabetics.

The out-of-hours GP said: "Whilst troubled by the sheer amount of Easter eggs we eat, I think it is possible to enjoy chocolate without excess and as part of a balanced diet.

"This is, I guess, another example of the old adage, 'a little bit of what you fancy does you good'.

"But do not over-indulge in chocolate, and then you can enjoy good health as well as a happy Easter."