Takeaway equals wine glass of lard

A REGULAR Chinese takeaway contains the equivalent of a wine glass full of lard, a study has found.

A meal including prawn crackers, crispy duck, chicken balls and spring rolls includes 2,823 calories and 132.5 grams of fat — the equivalent to a small wine glass, research for weight loss product Lipobind found. The average takeaway overall includes 1,500 calories.

The Food Standards Agency in Britain lists a “high” fat content as more than 20g per 100g, while women are advised to limit their calorie intake to 2,000 a day and men to 2,500.

In Britain, a poll of 10,000 adults found 35% eat at least two takeaways in a typical week. A further 11% have a takeaway five times a week, while 5% admit to eating one every day.

Almost a third (32%) voted a Chinese takeaway as their favourite meal, followed by 26% who preferred Indian food.

Just under a fifth of those polled (19%) ordered a side salad or diet drink to make their meal healthier.

However 20% ordered a side of chips adding an additional 250 calories and 15 grams of fat.

Some 8% said they had concerns about the fat content of their takeaway.

Nutritionist Mary Strugar said: “Takeaways as an occasional treat are fine. However, when such high volumes of fat and calories, not to mention salt levels, are consumed on a more regular basis you are in serious danger of putting your health on the line.

“If you do not exercise regularly, just two high fat takeaways a week could contribute to a substantial weight gain, adding more than 3,000 calories to your weekly allowance, increasing your chance of type 2 diabetes and other weight-related health problems such as hypertension and coronary heart disease.”

OnePoll polled 10,000 adults online in July.