Young adults have given up on home cooking and are typically eating 10 takeaways a month. And almost one in ten young adults admits to eating at least one takeaway or fast food meal every day.
Britons appear to be following a path set by the Americans where eating takeout two or three times a week is commonplace.
The British have also followed the Americans in terms of an alarming rise in obesity, particularly among children.
The trend is being driven by the rise of delivery services from the likes of Deliveroo, UberEat and Amazon.
Research by insurance giant Aviva found Millenials – those aged 18-35 – are eating five times the number of takeaways as those over 55. Their takeaway of choice is a pizza while looking at the population as a whole, fish and chips comes out on top.
Parents with children under 18 also admit to eating takeaways and fast food more regularly than the average UK adult. Unsurprisingly, full time workers order more than double the number of takeaways – eight – compared to the three of those who do not work.
Aviva’s data shows half of the population – 48percent – are already overweight or obese.
It said, “The higher frequency of takeaway consumption among younger adults and parents with younger children reveals a worrying trend that may be contributing to the nation’s growing waistlines.”
It seems that the hunger for food which is often packed with calories, fat and salt comes despite the fact we know it is not good for us.
Aviva found that nine in 10 agree that as a nation, we need to look after our own health more to help relieve pressure on the NHS.
At the same time three quarters – 77 percent – agree that illnesses like type 2 diabetes and heart disease, often associated with poor lifestyle choices, are putting too much pressure on the NHS.
Aviva UK Health Medical Director Dr Doug Wright said, “We all love a takeaway now and again, and it’s really convenient to be able to get food delivered direct to the sofa after a busy day. But with our data showing that young adults are eating takeaways far more regularly than older generations, it’s important to spread the message that takeaways should be enjoyed in moderation. Many of our favourite choices contain a high calorie count, and could mean we hit our salt, sugar and fat allowances for the day, in just one meal. Good nutrition is a cornerstone of overall health and feelings of wellness, so these types of treats need to be regarded as just that – an occasional indulgence.”
The findings appear to confirm recent predictions that spending on hot takeaway food in Britain is expected to treble by 2020.
The figure is predicted to rise from £2 billion last year to £7.6 billion, according to business consultants Alix Partners.