The number of obese 11 to 15-year-olds in England has almost doubled in a decade, according to government figures published today.

Around a quarter of children aged 11-15 were classified as obese in 2004, according to the latest health survey for England conducted by the NHS health and social care information centre.

Between 1995 and 2004, the number of obese children in the same age group increased from 14% to 24% for boys, and from 15% to 26% for girls, the survey of around 2,000 children found.

Its also shows that rates of obesity have risen in both young children and teenagers, despite government pledges to tackle the problem.

The proportion of obese two to 10-year-olds rose from 10% in 1995 to 16% in 2004 for boys, and from 10% in 1995 to 11% in 2004 for girls.

The public health minister, Caroline Flint, said the government recognised that it needed to do more and would continue working to meet its target "to halt the year-on-year increase of childhood obesity by 2010".

The survey also showed that a quarter of adults in England are now considered obese. The number of obese men has almost doubled from 13% in 1993 to 24% in 2004. For women, the obesity rate rose from 16% to 24% over the same period.

But the survey also shows that people are exercising more, eating more fruit and vegetables and smoking less.

The number of men eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day increased from 22% in 2001 to 24% in 2004, while the figure for women went up from 25% to 27%.

Between 1993 and 2004, the number of men who smoke dropped from 28% to 22%, while the number of women who smoke went from 26% to 23%.

The number of men exercising moderately for 30 minutes five or more times a week increased from 32% to 35% between 1997 and 2004, and from 21% of women to 24% during the same period.