Townsfolk are getting their five-a-day

But the authority says the warning has to be repeated that ‘poor eating habits contribute to a whole range of life-limiting illnesses caused by obesity’, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other related conditions.

Health care professionals recommend the following:

l Eat the right amount of calories for how active you are, so that you balance the energy you consume with the energy you use.

l Men should have about 2,500 calories a day and women 2,000 calories a day.

l Eat a wide range of foods to ensure that you are getting a balanced diet and that your body is receiving all the nutrients it needs.

l Starchy foods should make up around one third of the foods you eat.

l It is recommended that we eat at least five portions of different types of fruit and vegetables a day.

l Aim to eat at least two portions of fish a week, including at least one portion of oily fish.

l Reduce intake of saturated fat, sugar and salt.

l We should aim to drink about 1.6 to 2 litres (2.8 to 3.5 pints) of fluid every day to prevent dehydration.