Britain could become the fattest nation in Europe because of snack food addiction, the report said

The latest World Health Organization report on obesity on the continent shows that 64% of UK adults are overweight, including 28% who are obese. This makes Britain the fattest nation in Western Europe

British addiction Deliveroo Takeaways and social media will see Britain overtake Turkey and become the world’s fattest nation Europe over the next decade, a damning report has found.

The latest World Health Organization report on obesity on the continent shows that 64% of UK adults are overweight, including 28% who are obese.

It makes Britain the fattest nation in Western Europe, but the authors warn that lifestyle trends here mean the situation is likely to get worse.

The report includes data on trends since 2000 suggesting that a staggering 37% of UK adults are expected to be obese when rates peak in 2033/34.

Currently, Turkey and then Malta have larger proportions of the obese population, while Israel also has higher rates of obesity.

dr Kremlin Wickramasinghe, WHO director for noncommunicable diseases in Europe, warned the UK is at the forefront of lifestyle trends, with more people spending time in front of screens and ordering food deliveries.

He told the Mirror: “The UK is leading in Western European countries where we are seeing a certain lifestyle, with more and more digital screen time and the food environment in supermarkets and digital leading to increased obesity.

“In the UK we are seeing a larger proportion of the population being exposed to this type of environment. You see the same things in other countries, but in the UK you see a bigger share with online grocery delivery and [exposed to junk food] Advertising.”

In forecasts of future obesity rates by the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, only the United States performed worse. There, 44% of adults are projected to be obese by 2031.

The WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022 highlights sedentary lifestyles, with people increasingly staying at home in front of screens and socializing more online.

Attention was also drawn to the proliferation of grocery delivery services such as Deliveroo and Just Eat, as well as online supermarket deliveries.

It states: “There is evidence that food and beverages purchased in the out-of-home (OOH) sector have higher energy densities and higher levels of fat, sugar and salt than their retail counterparts.

“Serving sizes are often larger, which encourages overeating, especially when there is little price difference between serving sizes.

“The UK Government advises that regular excess consumption of a relatively small number of calories can lead to overweight or obesity and that eating out can make this worse.”

The report was published on the occasion of the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

It provides British research showing that eating out accounts for 20-25% of adult energy intake.

It found that people who eat out or order a similar takeout burn an average of 200 more calories per day than if they had prepared their food at home.

dr Wickramasinghe said: “The proportion of the population that is covered by these takeaways and online food deliveries is larger.

“In the UK it is very big compared to other countries. All these cafes [providing delivery services] and the out-of-home food sector is larger in the UK.

“We know it’s both sides, one side in energy intake and the other side is energy expenditure.

“So increasing screen time and sedentary lifestyles are contributing to rising obesity.”

Researchers warned that rates of childhood obesity in the UK appear to have deteriorated significantly during the pandemic.

dr Mirjam Heinen, adviser to the WHO report, said: “The UK is [faring] very bad… especially with children at the moment.

“We recently found that the UK is also doing badly during Covid with children.

“Since the introduction of the UK’s National Measurement Program interest rates have risen a little but not really steeply.

“And then you really went up so, very steeply during Covid. Covid definitely for kids and maybe adults too has made the situation worse.”

A separate study at the University Hospital Cardiff conference found that the majority of overweight people who try to lose weight are unsuccessful.

Just over a quarter of those analyzed from the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain who tried to lose weight managed to lose a significant amount a year later.

A spokeswoman for Deliveroo said: “Our stance on health is simple – we want to provide the right information and a wider range of healthier choices on our platform, as well as improved navigation to make them easier to find.”

A spokesman for Just Eat said: “Just Eat is an online marketplace working with over 60,000 restaurants across the UK, serving a diverse selection of over 100 cuisines – from grilled chicken, vegan and vegetarian dishes to traditional curries, sushi or pizza.

“Many are already offering healthier menu options and smaller portion sizes so customers can make choices that are right for them and their families.

“However, we recognize that we are in a unique position to support the restaurant and takeaway sector and continue to work with our partners to explore how they can expand their range to meet the needs and preferences of consumers to fulfill customers.”