Our picturesque seaside town is branded ‘UK’s unhealthiest’ with THREE McDonald’s 5 mins apart… no one bothers cooking
A PICTURESQUE seaside town has been branded one of Britain’s “unhealthiest”, with three McDonald’s within five minutes of each other.
Residents of Hartlepool, County Durham, say that people aren’t learning to cook as they can just order “cheap and convenient” food online.
Now, the town has ranked as the joint-fourth unhealthiest in the nation in a study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and financial services company Lane, Clark & Peacock
Local student Holly Bone, 19, told Sun Online: “Hartlepool is just a small town but we’ve got three McDonald’s in the centre.
“Everyone knows it’s not the best for you – but it’s cheap and convenient. They’re always busy – it doesn’t matter what time.
“Friends my age aren’t learning to cook – we don’t bother because we can just order food from our phones.
“It gets to our door quicker than cooking something in the kitchen.”
She added that, when the fast food giant puts deals on, it’s often actually cheaper to buy there than from supermarkets amid spiralling inflation and the cost of living crisis.
According to the ONS, only Blackpool, Kingston-upon-Hill and Stoke-on-Trent scored lower than Hartlepool’s 92 points, with 100 being the national average.
Residents Charlie Dunn, and her partner Jamie Peel, both 27, admitted being partial to a takeaway – and said that cost and convenience were key factors.
Jamie said: “Am I going to go and spend £4 on a tiny piece of salmon that’s going to feed one person, or £4 on a 12-inch pizza?
“I can literally order a wrap, chips and a drink for less than a fiver and be full.
“I know it’s not the healthiest option but I’m full. I’ve had a bit of scran in my stomach.”
Charlie added that takeaways are “everywhere” in town and that there are “too many of them”.
Meanwhile, Tom Wilson, 18, revealed that he could get a whopping 16-inch pizza for just £7.
He explained: “It’s not healthy but it is convenient. I can sit at home and get my food barely by lifting a finger.”
Britain's top 10 healthiest and unhealthiest places
Healthiest:
1. Wokingham – 110
2. Richmond upon Thames – 108
3. Windsor and Maidenhead – 107
4. West Berkshire – 106
5. Surrey – 106
6. Bracknell Forrest – 105
7. Buckinghamshire – 105
8. Rutland – 105
9. Kingston upon Thames – 105
10. Hampshire – 105
Unhealthiest:
1. Blackpool – 86
2. Kingston upon Hull – 91
3. Stoke-on-Trent – 91
4. Middlesbrough – 92
5. Hartlepool – 92
6. Knowsley – 93
7. Doncaster – 94
8. Nottingham – 94
9. St Helens – 94
10. Salford – 94