Cafes, Fast-Food Outlets, and More: Culprits in the Obesity Epidemic

  Cafes, Fast-Food Outlets, and More: 

  Culprits in the Obesity Epidemic

A study examining British eating habits has revealed that many takeaway meals surpass the recommended daily calorie intake in just one sitting. Cafes, fast-food outlets, restaurants, bakeries, pubs, and supermarkets are contributing to the UK's obesity crisis due to the high-calorie content of their meals.

According to research conducted by the social innovation agency Nesta, six out of ten takeaway meals contain more than the government-recommended 600 calories for lunch and dinner to avoid weight gain. Alarmingly, one in three meals contain at least 1,200 calories, double the suggested limit.

Since 2018, the government has advised that people should consume no more than 400 calories for breakfast and 600 calories each for lunch and dinner, with daily totals not exceeding 2,000 calories for women and 2,500 for men. However, some takeaway meals significantly exceed these limits. For instance, a pizza with chips can contain up to 3,142 calories. A typical pizza ranges from 2,000 to 2,400 calories, while a meal of a burger, chicken nuggets, sides, and a soft drink totals 1,658 calories. Even the beloved British dish of fish and chips stands at 1,425 calories, well above the 600-calorie recommendation.

Lauren Bowes Byatt, the deputy director of Nesta’s health team, highlighted the severity of the issue: "Our analysis shows that people are purchasing takeaway meals that contain more calories than the recommended allowance for a whole day. This should ring alarm bells for policymakers."

The excessive calorie content of fast food is a significant concern given the high consumption rates. Britons spend approximately £21.4bn annually on fast food and takeaway meals, with the market growing rapidly due to a preference for convenience. About 60% of people eat takeaway food at least once a week, and 11% do so daily. This trend has led to criticisms that these food outlets operate irresponsibly.

Sonia Pombo, a nutritionist and campaign lead at Action on Salt, expressed concern over the lack of regulation: “For much too long the out-of-home sector has been the ‘wild west’ of the food industry due to its lack of consistency and transparency when it comes to the number of unnecessary calories – not to mention salt and sugar – added to meals.” She emphasized the need for government intervention to enforce calorie, salt, and sugar reduction targets to create a healthier food environment.

While takeaway pizzas are among the highest-calorie items studied by Nesta, sandwiches and wraps contribute more to overall calorie intake due to their higher sales volume – 1.2 billion annually compared to just over 200 million pizzas.

Nesta's analysis included data from 5,800 people in England, Scotland, and Wales, collected between April and December 2021, along with information from the University of Cambridge and consumer groups Kantar and NIQ Brandbank.

Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UK Hospitality, defended the sector: “Hospitality offers everything from a healthy lunch to a celebratory treat on a special occasion. The sector strives to offer a wide range of options for customers to pick from, including ever more healthy choices through new menu items, reducing portion sizes, and adapting dishes themselves.”

Andrew Opie, the director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, also noted efforts to promote healthier eating: “Responsible retailers selling out-of-home food are making progress supporting customers to make healthier choices in the food they buy through better calorie labelling, reformulation of products, and portion control. More is needed to tackle obesity and this will require government action.”