Fast-food restaurants are flooding Britain’s high streets fuelling the obesity crisis that costs the country billions.
A new study has revealed that fast food outlets outnumber supermarkets by a staggering 534 per cent across the UK.
More than half of the UK population is overweight or obese, with more than one in five admitting to eating takeaways or ready meals more than three times a week.
Obesity costs the NHS a staggering £11 billion annually, with wider societal costs estimated at £74.3 billion annually due to ill health.
The latest data shows there are 49,254 takeaway and fast-food restaurants across the UK, a figure that has risen by more than two per cent in the last year alone.
Some 47 per cent of respondents admitted ‘health’ was the least important factor when picking what to order, while almost a third said ‘convenience’ was their main motivator.
Just three per cent of people said they never eat takeaways, according to a survey by MedExpress.
Analysis of government ONS data across 123 available locations reveals where in the UK has the largest disparity of supermarkets and takeaways.
Camden in north London topped the list, with the study revealing a staggering 1,153 per cent more takeaways than supermarkets in the area
Also in the top ten list is Leicester, which has one fast food restaurant per 873 people
Camden topped the list, with the study revealing a staggering 1,153 per cent more takeaways than supermarkets in the area.
This means residents have just one supermarket per 2,626 people, while there is a takeaway for every 228.
Tameside in Manchester ranks second, with 1,081 per cent more fast-food outlets than supermarkets, with one supermarket per 6,246 people compared to one takeaway per 578.
Meanwhile, Newham, in London, completes the top three with a 1,039 per cent disparity, as one supermarket serves on average 7,953 people while there is one takeaway per 731 people.
Doctor Sophie Dix, head of medical affairs at MedExpress, said: ‘The dominance of takeaway outlets across the country is deeply concerning.
‘Typically high in calories, salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, regular consumption can lead to weight gain and obesity, increasing the risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure – all of which place a significant strain on the NHS.
‘While convenience is clearly a major factor, the overwhelming number of takeaway and fast-food outlets makes it difficult for people to access healthy options.
‘Whether trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, access to nutritious food is essential for supporting long-term health.’
The survey revealed that only 13 per cent of Brits of all ages said they cook from scratch daily, meaning that 87 per cent rely on some sort of pre-prepared, frozen or fast food alternative.
The findings are not only concerning for the health of today’s Britain, but for future generations, with a third of 18-24-year-olds also being recorded as obese or overweight.
Just half of 18-24-year-olds said they were able to chop an onion, without guidance, compared to 85 per cent of over-55s.
However, the most confident skill among 18–24-year-olds was using the air fryer, with 70 per cent being able to do so.
By specific health condition heart failure was the costliest per patient, tallying at just over £3,650 and £4,320 between different weight classes. This was followed by kidney disease, costing between £2,900 and almost £4,200, and cardiovascular disease, coming in at nearly £2,700 at just shy of £3,500
New government figures also highlighted the scale of child obesity in the UK, with 10.5 per cent of children in reception and 22.2 per cent of year 6 pupils living with obesity.
Doctor Dix believes the that first step in addressing Britain’s obesity crisis is ‘improving education and accessibility’ among young people.
‘Convenience eating and modern cooking tools are now part of everyday life, but this survey shows a hunger for education,’ she said.
‘By giving young people more hands-on cooking experience, schools can empower the next generation to make healthier, confident food choices, whatever their lifestyle.
‘Equipping future generations with the skills to prepare balanced, nutrient-dense meals is essential for supporting long-term health and expanding access to healthier food options.’
Katharine Jenner, executive director of the Obesity Health Alliance, added that when unhealthy food is ‘everywhere’ that ‘people simply don’t have a fair choice’.
She said: ‘If the Government is serious about preventing diet-related ill health, councils must have the power to limit the full range of fast-food businesses – not just traditional takeaways, but also the multinational fast-food chains and any outlet selling predominantly unhealthy food.
‘To reduce obesity and ease pressure on the NHS, local authorities need the tools to shape food environments that support people’s health rather than undermine it.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘This government is taking unprecedented action to tackle the obesity crisis as part of our 10 Year Health Plan, which is shifting the focus of care from sickness to prevention.
‘As part of our mission to raise the healthiest generation of children ever, we have given local authorities stronger, clearer powers to block new fast food outlets opening near schools.
‘We’re also extending the soft drinks industry levy to cover more products, including sugary milk-based drinks, restricting advertising of junk food on TV and online, limiting volume price promotions on less healthy foods, and introducing mandatory reporting and targets on sales of healthy food.
‘A healthier nation will mean less pressure on our NHS, a healthier economy and a happier society.’
