Cheap But Not So Cheerful

In Scotland, a massive 65% of adults are overweight, with 29% of these people being classified as ‘obese’. Although this is a huge statistic, it is not a majorly shocking one as we all know how readily available convenience foods are. 

With stores like Poundland, Home Bargains and B&M popping up in every town, it is becoming easier and easier for us to purchase ‘junk food’ items such as chocolate and crisps for a fraction of the price of most large supermarkets. This majorly contributes to the obesity problem in the UK as people who are strapped for cash have no option but to purchase the cheapest option which mostly will be processed rubbish. 

For example in Tesco you can purchase a 2 litre bottle of lemonade for 50p however, a 750ml bottle of smoothie is £3! So for a student with a tight budget it is obvious that their decision will be swayed by the £2.50 price difference. 

If people make a life choice to eat unhealthily then that is their decision but it then becomes a problem when it makes them ill and they expect free healthcare. Every year obesity costs the NHS more then £5 billion and is linked to over 40,000 deaths. This could be drastically minimised if there was regulations regarding the price at which junk food could be sold and and the possibility of making rules covering the offers that supermarkets can provide to include a certain amount of ‘health foods’. As many people simply eat unhealthy as they simply cannot afford basic fruit and veg.