The fat map: Where you live has a direct result on your obesity risk

A study has found that people who either live or work near takeaways are more likely to get overweight.

16:49 14 March 2014

A recent study published online in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) claims that people who either live or work near takeaways are almost twice as likely to be obese compared to those people who have none on their doorstep. These people, according to the study, eat an extra 40g of high calorie food every week, compared to those who stay away.

Researchers said: "Compared with people least exposed to takeaway food outlets, we estimate those most exposed consumed an additional 5.7g per day of takeaway food, which would constitute a 15 per cent higher consumption than those least exposed.”

"In a week, this translates into an additional 39.9g of takeaway food. This weekly amount constitutes more than half a small serving of McDonald's french fries (typically 71g per serving)."

Dr Thomas Burgoine, lead author of the study from the UKs Centre for Diet and Activity Research, said that the study provides new evidence where people live has a direct result on their obesity risk.

Burgoine added: “The foods we eat away from home tend to be less healthy than the meals we prepare ourselves, so it is important to consider how exposure to food outlets selling these high calorie foods in our day-to-day environments might be influencing consumption."