Food-led pubs are facing a year of crisis unless they adapt to new healthy-eating trends, as concerns over obesity grow.
Official figures released last month by the National Centre for Social Research, have now confirmed that more than one in five adults are obese and almost a third of all children are either overweight or obese.
The obesity crisis could cost the country as much as £3.6bn by 2010 and with a major publicity campaign being planned by MPs, pubs could lose health-conscious customers if they fail to adapt.
The government is debating drastic measures to halt the trend which include education campaigns, health warnings on high-fat, high-sugar, high-salt food and strict controls on advertising.
Out-of-home eating, which includes pub grub and accounts for 40 per cent of meals eaten in the UK, has also been criticised by government experts as they fight to tackle the obesity explosion, which is being described as a public health threat to rival smoking.
"It is a time bomb. We haven't got the services to recognise the problem, let alone tackle it. It is going to be more of a serious health problem than smoking," Howard Stoate MP, the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on obesity, told the Guardian. "We are up against a food industry that is far bigger than the tobacco lobby ever was."
Food manufacturers have been criticised for promoting food that is high in sugar, fat or salt and are being encouraged to alter their marketing programmes and, in some cases, their recipes.
And pubs, restaurants and cafes are being urged to offer customers healthy options.
Pub grub has a long-standing reputation for being unhealthy with dishes such as burger and chips, sausage and mash or lasagne being best-sellers.
But many pub companies are already adapting their menus to cater for customers who want a healthier option.
Nottingham-based pubco Hardys & Hansons has had great success with a menu endorsed by weight-loss group Slimming World.
The menu has been approved by the organisation and also appeals to customers who want lighter, healthier meals.
"We appreciate how hard it can be for people trying to lose weight to enjoy eating out without feeling guilty or undoing their good work," said David George, Hardys & Hansons catering development manager (pictured).
Lancashire-based Thwaites Inns has also enjoyed success with its "Low and Healthy" menu. Catering development manager Judi Houghton is currently putting together a manual to help its 38 managers create low-fat, low-calorie or low-carbohydrate dishes.
Obesity - the facts
- Obesity is estimated to cause 31,000 premature deaths every year
- Obesity increases the risk of prostate, womb, kidney, breast, bowel and pancreas cancers
- It also increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease
- Obesity is measured by body mass index, which is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. A desirable BMI is between 20 and 25. Any higher is considered overweight, any lower is underweight.
- Obesity is a public health crisis that could cost the country £3.6bn by 2010.