One in four young adults in Wales ate a takeaway on two or more days last week, survey shows
Young adults in Wales eat takeaways, ready meals and at cafés and restaurants more than any other age group, according to a new survey by Public Health Wales.
The Time to Talk Public Health survey found 26 per cent of those aged 16 to 29 ate a takeaway on two or more days in the past week.
That compares to 18 per cent of 30 to 49 year olds, 8 per cent of 50 to 69 year olds, and 2 per cent of those aged 70 and over.
The survey also found that more than half of all respondents, 57 per cent, eat lunch away from home at least sometimes, and of those, 60 per cent buy it on the go.
Among young adults who eat lunch away from home, 77 per cent buy it on the go, the highest of any age group.
The survey found that people living in the most deprived areas were more likely to report eating habits associated with a higher likelihood of being overweight or obese.
The research also recorded differences in portion size across age groups.
Overall, 24 per cent of respondents said they serve themselves a large portion, while 53 per cent said they rarely leave food on their plate even when they feel full.
Young adults were the most likely to serve a large portion, at 35 per cent, compared to 32 per cent of 30 to 49 year olds, 21 per cent of 50 to 69 year olds and 12 per cent of those aged 70 and over.
Dr Ilona Johnson, Consultant in Public Health for Public Health Wales, said: “Overweight and obesity affect over 60% of adults in Wales and young adulthood is when people are most likely to gain weight.”
She said: “What we eat and how much we eat affects our weight. This work has found that young adults and those living in more deprived communities face the greatest challenges when it comes to making healthier food choices and the food environments around them are making that harder, not easier to be healthy.”
Dr Catherine Sharp, Principal Public Health Researcher at Public Health Wales, said: “This research provides robust, Wales-specific evidence on how food environments and their interactions with our behaviours shape eating patterns across the nation.”
She said: “This research shows where behaviours linked to increased obesity and overweight risk are most prevalent and provides important evidence to support targeted interventions to improve health in Wales.”
The Time to Talk Public Health survey was published by Public Health Wales on 2 June 2026.