UK Is The World's Leading Fast Food Nation

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Diabetes
Article Date: 08 Jan 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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The UK is ahead of the US as the world's leading fast food nation according to research of 9,000 people across 13 countries.

In the UK, 45 per cent of people agreed with the statement "I like the taste of fast food too much to give it up", compared to 44 per cent in the US.

One in five named "unhealthy food choices" as the cause of obesity, while the same percentage chose "unhealthy food habits like eating at irregular hours".

Overall, lack of exercise was named the main cause of obesity by 18 per cent of people while 13 per cent blamed "no self discipline" and 11 per cent put it down to "genetics".

In the UK, unhealthy food choices, lack of exercise and no self-discipline were the highest ranked reasons.

Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said: "This survey is a sad indictment of current eating habits in the UK.

"Obesity is one of the leading causes of Type 2 diabetes, a serious condition which can lead to heart disease, kidney failure and blindness. Soaring obesity levels mean that 100,000 new cases are diagnosed every year.

"Diabetes UK urges people to eat a healthy, balanced diet. This does not mean that people have to completely give up fast food but because fast food is high in fat, salt and sugar, it should only be eaten occasionally."

The study by BBC World and market research firm Synovate aimed to uncover global attitudes to food and obesity across the UK, France, Czech Republic, Romania, USA, Canada, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.

http://www.diabetes.org.uk