Are Food Deserts And Lack of Education Fueling Britain's Obesity Crisis

Obesity in the UK has become a major public health concern, costing the NHS a staggering £11 billion annually 1. In fact, our survey revealed that more than half of the UK population, and over a third of 18-24 year olds, are overweight or obese. And while the introduction of GLP-1 medications has been revolutionary in redefining weight management, medication alone cannot solve a systemic issue around food convenience and education.

True and lasting health comes when science is paired with education, accessibility, and innovation, ensuring that everyone, even those using GLP-1 medication during and after treatment, has the knowledge and access needed to maintain a healthy weight. However, it has become evident that the UK has underprioritised these two factors.

As of 2025, there are 49,254 takeaway and fast-food restaurants across the UK, a figure that’s risen by over 2% in the last year alone and is significantly outweighing supermarkets.2 Meanwhile, education around nutrition and cooking skills has also taken a back seat, with Gen Z now being dubbed the ‘airfryer’ generation. Not because air fryers are unhealthy(they typically use far less oil than deep frying), but because quick, gadget-based cooking is replacing more comprehensive food preparation skills.

So, what is having a bigger impact on Britain’s rising obesity crisis? Being starved for choice or being starved of knowledge?

To explore this further, MedExpress analysed government ONS data to identify the UK’s largest “food deserts," the areas with the greatest disparity between takeaway outlets vs supermarkets and most in need of systemic change. Alongside this, a nationally representative survey of 600 Brits was conducted to examine Britain’s knowledge gap around nutrition and cooking confidence, revealing how a lack of education may also be driving the nation’s growing reliance on convenience foods and takeaways.

Over 1 in 5 Brits eat takeaway or ready-meals 3+ times a week

What is driving Britian's takeaway culture?

Given the demands of modern life and the long hours many people work, it's understandable that takeaway and convenience foods feature heavily in UK diets. Many takeaway options can be balanced choices, depending on what people select. According to the survey, 45% of Brits eat takeaways, ready meals or frozen food 1-2 times weekly, with 21% doing so three or more times. Just 3% say they never eat takeaway food, showing how embedded convenience eating is in everyday life.

The most popular takeaway was revealed to be Pizza, with 18% of Brits choosing it as their favourite order, followed by Chinese (17%), Burgers (14%), Fish and Chips and Indian, both in joint fifth place (11%).

When asked what specifically motivates Brits to choose a takeaway over a home-cooked meal, almost a third of Brits (32%) cited convenience as the main reason. Other key reasons were as follows:

• 28% said cooking takes too long
• 22% admit it’s because they don’t have the right ingredients at home
• 14% said takeaways taste better
• 9% admit it’s because they don’t enjoy cooking

While convenience can encompass a variety of factors, such as time and ease, accessibility plays a large role. In light of this, we delved further into the data to spotlight where in the UK the convenience and accessibility of takeaway outlets highly outweighs access to supermarkets, which could provide a higher quality of nutrition. 

Britian's starved for choice: Where are Britian's biggest food deserts?

To understand how accessibility is influencing Britain’s food choices, we analysed local authority data across 123 available locations to reveal where in the UK has the largest disparity of supermarkets vs takeaways per area. Locations with the highest proportion of takeaways compared to supermarkets were classified as ‘food deserts’ and ranked accordingly to reveal where residents have the best and worst access to fresh, nutritious food.

The UK's top 10 largest food deserts

The study found that on average, takeaway outlets outnumber supermarkets in the UK by 534%. However, the area which was found to be worse off is Camden, London.

1,153% more takeaway outlets than supermarkets in Camden

Camden topped the list as the UK’s largest food desert, with the study revealing there are 1,153% more takeaway outlets than supermarkets. To draw a comparison, that means there is one supermarket for every 2,626 residents, compared to one takeaway outlet for every 228 people, highlighting that access to fast food is far greater than to fresh and more nutritious food.

1,081% more takeaway outlets than supermarkets in Tameside.

Tameside in Manchester ranks second, with 1,081% more fast-food outlets than supermarkets, with one supermarket per 6246 people. Meanwhile, Newham, in London, completes the top three largest food deserts, with a 1,039% disparity between fast-food outlets and supermarkets.

1,039% more takeaway outlets than supermarkets in Newham.

Doctor Sophie Dix, Head of Medical Affairs at MedExpress, comments on the findings, “The dominance of takeaway outlets across the country is deeply concerning. While healthier options exist, the prevalence of takeaway and fast food outlets makes it harder for people to access healthy choices. Whether losing weight or maintaining weight, access to nutritious food is essential to support long-term health.”

Starved of knowledge: Is Britain facing a skills deficit?

Even when food is accessible, many people lack the knowledge and confidence to make nutritious meals from scratch. In fact, our survey revealed that 84% of respondents believe a lack of cooking skills is fuelling the nation’s takeaway culture. And the public wasn’t wrong. Britain's kitchen confidence was found to be worryingly low…

• 28% of Brits admit they’re not confident making a basic salad dressing without a recipe.
• 26% say they’re not confident making a simple pasta sauce from scratch.
• 20% admit they wouldn’t know how to pair herbs and spices without guidance.
• 11% say they’d struggle to roast vegetables without instructions.
• 7% admit they wouldn’t know how to fry an egg without guidance.
• 6% say they couldn’t chop an onion without help.

More than 1/4 of Brits aren't confident making a simple sauce from scratch.

This lack of basic cooking knowledge likely extends beyond individual skills and is affecting our daily nutrition choices. Only 13% of Brits said they cook from scratch daily, meaning that 87% rely on some sort of pre-prepared, frozen or fast food alternative.

60% aren’t strongly confident they could make a meal from scratch, with 6% of Brits outright admitting they wouldn’t be able to, and one in ten admitting they wouldn’t know how to cook intuitively at all. As a result, 71% of Brits admit they turn to pre-prepared ingredients or ready-made meals when they don’t know how to make it, making it clear that this knowledge gap is contributing to Britain’s growing need for convenience and, in turn, contributing to the rising obesity crisis.

The generational cooking gap: Are we fueling a generation fluent in delivery apps?

Our research also showed some core generational differences. More than a third (36%) of 18–24-year-olds were found to be overweight or obese, raising concerns about how the nation’s growing ‘cooking skills deficit’ and limited access to fresh food are fuelling a generation fluent in delivery apps, not dinner plates.

Despite knowledge being more accessible than ever in the digital age, our survey made it clear that kitchen confidence is sharply declining among young generations, with just half of 18–24s able to chop an onion, without guidance, compared to 85% of over-55s. Other basic skills lacking among 18–24-year-olds were as follows:

• Only 40% of 18-24-year-olds feel confident roasting vegetables without guidance
• Only 28% of 18-24 year olds can make a simple salad dressing without a recipe
• Only a third (33%) of 18-24-year-olds can make a simple sauce from scratch
• Only 54% feel confident boiling an egg

However, the most confident skill among 18–24-year-olds was using the air fryer, with 70% being able to do so, highlighting a generation embracing new cooking methods, complementing rather than replacing basic culinary skills.

Starved for choice, or starved of knowledge?

Dr Sophie Dix comments on the impact of a nation starved of nutritional knowledge:

“Education and access must go hand-in-hand. Providing people with the skills and confidence to prepare healthy, nutrient-rich meals is vital for the future of Britain’s health.

While GLP-1 medications can be highly effective for weight loss, they should be seen as an enabler, not a replacement. For long-term success, GLP-1 treatments must be seen as a tool that supports sustainable habits, paired with a clear understanding of what a balanced, nutritious diet looks like. Without these basic skills, even the most effective weight management strategies are at risk of being undermined.

Eating smaller portions of nutrient-poor, low-quality foods can compromise long-term health outcomes, yet our research shows that many GLP-1 users lack this essential nutritional literacy. Addressing this gap is not just about supporting medication effectiveness… it is critical to safeguarding the long-term health of our nation.”

Is the educational system to blame for Britain's knowledge gap?

Britain's forgot how to cook

Despite cooking and nutrition being compulsory in state-maintained schools for Key Stages 1 to 3 (ages 5–14), only 6% of Brits say they learned how to cook nutritious meals at school. Instead, half of the respondents said they learned from their parents, and a quarter from social media.

When asked about the value of food technology classes, over a third (38%) said lessons failed to teach them any real cooking skills they still use today. More than a quarter (28%) felt that food technology wasn’t a useful subject at school.

However, it’s not just the education system that needs to change; it’s how we, as a nation, view and value nutrition and home cooking within our own four walls. Nearly half (48%) of respondents said they didn’t grow up in a family that valued cooking or encouraged healthy eating habits. This needs to change in order for us to inspire upcoming generations and limit the rise of convenience within our homes.

The future of Britain's obesity epidemic

New government figures highlight the scale of child obesity in the UK, with 10.5% of children in reception and 22.2% of year 6 pupils living with obesity. To tackle this, public health measures include restrictions on junk food advertising and high-caffeine energy drinks, as well as expanded free school meals and universal breakfast clubs.

However, our research shows that education remains a critical gap: a striking 95% of respondents said they want schools to dedicate more time to practical cooking skills, underlining the urgent need to equip children with the knowledge and confidence to access healthy, nutritious food.

Doctor Sophie Dix comments on how she believes we can tackle the obesity epidemic: 

“In my opinion, the first step in addressing Britain’s obesity crisis is improving education and accessibility. Convenience eating and modern cooking tools are now part of everyday life, but this survey shows a hunger for education. By giving young people more hands-on cooking experience, schools can empower the next generation to make healthier, confident food choices, whatever their lifestyle. Equipping future generations with the skills to prepare balanced, nutrient-dense meals is essential for supporting long-term health and expanding access to healthier food options.

Medical interventions such as GLP-1 treatments are an effective tool to treat obesity and support weight management in adults, but they work best alongside nutritional knowledge and sustainable habits. Without education, many individuals are turning to medical intervention as a replacement and not as a part of the broader solution that combines medicine, education, and access to healthy food.

We need systemic change, supported by policy and legislation, to ensure nutrition is embedded at the heart of our education system and public health initiatives. This includes not only practical cooking skills in schools but also initiatives that make healthy foods more accessible across the country.”

If you’re managing obesity, it’s essential to consult your doctor before starting GLP‑1 treatments. Trusted providers like MedExpress offer confidential online assessments, access to clinically approved therapies, and guidance on sustainable lifestyle changes, including diet, nutrition and exercise to support lasting results.

Methodology

We conducted a nationwide representative survey, with 600 national representatives surveyed on Britain’s cooking habits.

To uncover the UK’s biggest food deserts, we analysed supermarket (including convenience stores) and fast-food outlet (take-away food shops and mobile food stands) availability across UK local authorities, using ONS population data and government food outlet records. We calculated takeaway-to-supermarket ratios and supermarkets per population, ranking areas to identify the largest food deserts and regions with the best access to fresh food.

References

1. UK Government report aimed at reducing obesity
2. Google search data for GLP-1 weight loss in January 2023 to September 2025. Retrieved November 2025.
3. Bionic research into takeaway businesses in the UK
4. Government report into childhood obesity