A NATION GORGING ITSELF ON FAST FOOD
Record surge in takeaways feeds Britain’s obesity crisis
TAKEAWAY shops are over- running our high streets and fuelling the obesity crisis, shocking figures revealed last night.
The number of fast-food outlets has increased by a third in eight years and is at its highest level since figures were first compiled in 2010. Experts said it was common for takeaways to represent half of all the food available on the high street, making it difficult for consumers to eat healthily.
There are an average of 61 fast-food premises per 100,000 of the population, rising to 127 in Westminster in central London and 97 in Blackpool. The latest
figures also show that nearly every area in the UK – 204 out of 215 county or metropolitan regions – has witnessed an increase in takeaway outlets since 2010.
In Rotherham, South Yorkshire, nearly 60 per cent of businesses are fast-food outlets, with one owner claiming to have seen 80 pizza shops open in two years.
The new Office for National Statistics figures – compiled by the BBC – show the number of outlets has increased from 47 per 100,000 people in 2010 to 61 per 100,000 in 2018.
Dr Thomas Burgoine, from the Centre for Diet and Activity Research at the University of Cambridge, said the ‘consistency of year- on-year growth in the takeaway sector was a concern’.
He added: ‘It’s common for takeaways to represent a third and sometimes half of all high street food available. From a public health point of view, it should be healthy choices that are the easy choices. In many places we seem to be moving away from that.’
Professor Louis Levy, head of nutrition science at Public Health England, said: ‘Eating out is no longer a treat, it’s the norm. At the end of the day, we’re all eating about 200 to 300 calories more than we need – we need to choose options better for our diets.’
The Government announced a new childhood obesity strategy in June which called for compulsory calorie labelling on menus and a ban on discounted junk food.
But campaigners said it didn’t go far enough – they want ministers to impose compulsory targets on the food industry to cut levels of sugar and fat and reduce portion sizes.
Ismail Shahjahan, who has run a takeaway in Rotherham for 16 years, said: ‘ In the last couple of years, I’ve seen 60 to 80 pizza shops open in Rotherham.’
A spokesman from the British Takeaway Campaign, which represents the fast-food sector, said last night: ‘Takeaways want to play their part to tackle obesity but the sector’s small independent restaurants need support.
‘That’s why we’re calling for an online calorie counter to help takeaways provide their customers with the information they need to make informed choices.’
The Department of Health and Social Care said it launched a three-year programme last month, inviting councils to pitch ideas to tackle childhood obesity. It added: ‘ Local authorities have a range of powers to create healthier environments, including planning policies to limit the opening of additional fast-food outlets close to schools and in areas of over-concentration.’