Ministers have been warned that the government must tackle obesity and unhealthy living if it is to avoid a financial time bomb in the NHS.

In an interim report, Derek Wanless warned that obesity, binge drinking and smoking could put a serious strain on the health service.

The report is likely to result in ministers launching a fresh drive against the risks of unhealthy living.

The move comes when MPs on the health select committee are pressing supermarkets and food producers to do more to tackle the soaring problem of obesity.

In his study Wanless, who conducted an earlier inquiry into health spending, concluded that "responsibility for public health lies with a wide range of individuals and organisations".

A key concern was the shift over the last century from infectious diseases to chronic diseases.

"Chronic diseases, such as [Coronary Heart Disease] and cancer, are also strongly related to lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity and alcohol," said the report.

"There is a strong social gradient to the prevalence of many of these risk factors, particularly for smoking."

The report set out the case for a "fully engaged" commitment to improving public health - a scenario which would produce better outcomes for patients and would also reduce the costs for the NHS.

"In absolute expenditure terms the gap between the best and worst scenarios is large - around £30 billion by 2022/23," said the report.