also increased the consumption of dairy products, potatoes and cereals

Another fascinating fact brought to you by Ukmedix News is that couples who have children are more likely to the unhealthily than those couples who don't! The research which was carried out by scientists at the University of Reading observed that those couples who only have to worry about their own eating habits were on average likely to eat 4lb. more fruits and veggies over a two week period than those families who had to worry about their children's eating habits too.

The lead author of the study Professor Richard Tiffin explained that children not only reduce the consumption of fruit and vegetables but also increased the consumption of dairy products, potatoes and cereals. He explained that busy families often had little time to buy and prepare fruit and vegetables and it was much easier to eat easily prepared food, however he pointed out that unhealthy eating habits get passed on to children and that healthy eating at a young age increased the chances of good health later on in life.

At Ukmedix News we also reckon that couples who don't have children tend to be more image conscious and therefore more likely to make that extra effort to eat healthily. How many couples do you know who "let themselves go" after they had children?!

Other findings produced by this study showed that on average unemployed individuals ate 8lbs less of fruit over a fortnight than employed individuals and that there was a definite correlation between low income and unhealthy eating. The study looked at regional differences in consumption for fruit and vegetables in the UK and saw that in London and in the South East the demand was at its highest compared to Scotland and Northern Ireland where fresh food consumption was seriously lacking.

Professor Tiffin described "diet-related chronic disease" as possibly the most important public health challenge that governments needed to deal with in wealthy nations in the 21st century.