The number of fast-food takeaways in Dumfries and Galloway has grown by 12 percent in the last five years.
The unhealthy climb saw the region go from 85 fast food spots in 2016 to 95 last year.
This works out at 64 different takeaway businesses for each 100,000 of the population – the 12th highest out of 32 council areas in Scotland.
Anti-obesity campaigners say the expansion of the takeaway trade across the country is “deeply concerning” and have urged the UK Government to ensure these outlets offer healthier options.
The problem was particularly bad 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.
In Scotland, that was followed by 87.9 per 100,000 in North Lanarkshire and 85.7 per 100,000 in North Ayrshire.
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 is likely to be at least 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.
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.”
