The number of takeaways in West Dunbartonshire have increased by 30 percent – and business has grown during the pandemic.
New figures show there were 65 takeaway and mobile food stands in the local authority area last year, compared to 50 in 2015.
The region has the seventh highest rate of takeaways per 100,000 people in the country, sitting at 73.6 per 100k.
Numbers have grown over the years, with five more takeaways opening during the pandemic.
Anti-obesity campaigners say the expansion of the takeaway trade across the country is “deeply concerning”, particularly in areas of high deprivation, and have urged the UK Government to ensure these outlets offer healthier options.
The numbers were particularly high in Glasgow, which had around 635 takeaways and mobile food stands in 2021, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates.
That was a 4.1 percent increase from 610 the previous year and was also up from 495 in 2015 – the earliest year with comparable figures. Across the UK, the 43,235 (64.5 per 100,000) takeaways and mobile food stands recorded last year represented a 5.6 percent rise from 2020 – the largest increase since 2015.
That could be partly driven by the pandemic, as a nation forced indoors during successive lockdowns turned to their favourite takeaway foods for comfort.
Katharine Jenner, director of the campaign group Action on Sugar and Action on Salt, said: “It’s deeply concerning that the number of fast-food takeaway outlets has continued to rise at a staggering rate - especially in areas where there are likely to be high levels of deprivation.”
The UK Government recently faced criticism for delaying elements of its obesity strategy by pausing a ban on deals such as buy-one-get-one-free offers on junk food and restrictions on pre-watershed (9pm) TV advertising of unhealthy snacks.
Despite the setbacks, Ms Jenner urged the prime minister to take urgent action to ensure takeaway outlets offer healthier options with far less fat, sugar and salt, and smaller portions.
She added: “This will play a pivotal role in urgently rebuilding the nation’s health.”
Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, warned that the number of takeaways could continue to rise as the cost-of-living crisis deepens.
He said: “Takeaways thrive in poorer urban areas where their customers find it too demanding to afford healthy and nutritious food.
“Away from big cities, even though poverty may still exist, these outlets are still able to make substantial profits.
“Wherever their location local councils are increasingly powerless to cut down on their trade.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the government recognised the pressing need to tackle obesity, given the estimated cost to the NHS of £6.5 billion per year and the fact it is the second biggest cause of cancer.
He added: “We’re taking urgent action to encourage people to choose healthier food options through introducing calorie labelling on menus, supporting families through schemes such as Healthy Start and bringing into force rules on the placement of less healthy products in stores.
“We will set out further action on levelling up the nation’s health through a white paper later this year.”
