Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 3
Public Health Wales Finds 27% of 16-29s Eat 2+ Takeaways Weekly
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 3

Public Health Wales Finds 27% of 16-29s Eat 2+ Takeaways Weekly

2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 3

Summary

  • More than a quarter of 16- to 29-year-olds in Wales eat takeaways at least twice a week, making them the unhealthiest age group in Public Health Wales' Time to Talk study.
  • PHW linked that pattern to diets high in calorie-dense foods prepared outside the home, with young adults also more likely to buy lunch on the go and serve larger portions.
  • The age gap was stark: 18% of 30-49s reported two or more takeaways weekly, versus 8% of 50-69s and 2% of people aged 70 and over.
  • Researchers and interviewees said app-based ordering, discounts and work-driven convenience were pushing demand, while some consumers saw less price difference between takeaways and cooking ingredients.
  • PHW said the findings point to unhealthy food environments driving poorer diets and obesity risk, underscoring calls to make healthier choices easier for young adults.

Insights

Is 'convenience culture' becoming a new poverty trap for the long-term health of young adults?
If our environment is the problem, what radical changes to our cities can make healthy eating the default choice?
Can education defeat food delivery algorithms that are specifically designed to make us unhealthy?