A dietitian has explained why we can’t stop eating takeaways
Neil Shaw Network Content Editor
00:01, 22 Jan 2026
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Gousto’s most addictive takeaway(Image: )
The UK’s addiction to takeaways is costing the healthcare system £67billion a year, according to new research. UCL economists at Bloomsbury Policy Lab said the risk of diet-related conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases is greatly increased by the frequent consumption of fast food, and the UPFs it contains, and may be costing the British health system as much as £67 billion annually.
The research calculates the cost to the NHS and health services caused by high fat, salt and sugar foods.
To expose how fast food giants hook consumers, recipe box Gousto has created ‘The Big Secret’ – a highly addictive burger meal that reveals what lies behind some of the nation’s favourite fast foods.
The burger, which is not available to the public due to health concerns, is a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a vanilla and strawberry milkshake engineered to demonstrate how UK fast food is designed to drive cravings and overconsumption at the expense of long-term health.
The Big Secret contains 165% of the recommended daily intake of salt, over triple the daily sugar limit and extremely high levels of saturated fat It incorporates the tactics fast food brands use to captivate the brain’s reward system.
One of these is the ‘bliss point’ – the precise mix of sugar, salt, and fat that maximises pleasure while delaying fullness, sparking a dopamine response that naturally encourages repeat bites. Combining chemical enhancers and texture manipulation, the result is what could be considered the UK’s most addictive burger meal. It delivers over 2,100 calories in a form that can be eaten quickly and easily, with every component qualifying as ultra-processed, made up of 90 ingredients across the burger, fries and milkshake.
Registered dietitian Clare Thornton-Wood said: ” When people struggle to cut back on fast food, it’s rarely about a lack of willpower. Many fast food meals are carefully engineered to stimulate the brain’s reward system, combining fats, salt, sugar and additives to hit the ‘bliss point’ and trigger dopamine responses that reinforce cravings rather than satisfy hunger.
“While these ingredients are approved for singular use, the way they’re layered together can make moderation much harder – particularly for those trying to eat more healthily. The challenge isn’t the individual, it’s the food environment they’re navigating.”
Gousto is calling for clearer, more accessible ingredient information across the food industry, so consumers can understand what’s in the foods they buy and make healthier, more informed choices.
Timo Boldt, Founder and CEO at Gousto said: “January is a time when many of us want to eat healthier, but the addictive nature of fast food is designed to make it hard to break old habits. Our Big Secret campaign exposes the techniques employed by the fast food industry that keep us hooked, in an effort to raise awareness and break the cycle.
“At Gousto, we believe convenience shouldn’t come at the expense of health. Our quick, home-cooked meals make it simple to enjoy tasty, nourishing dinners, even on the busiest nights. With clearer information and more accessible scratch cooking options, we want to help people start the year feeling good about what’s on their plate, without ever compromising on flavour or convenience.”
