HUNDREDS and thousands of chocoholic residents in Wales say they would find it easier to give up sex, coffee and social media than chocolate, according to a new British Heart Foundation (BHF) survey.
The figures, which reveal the country’s unhealthy obsession with chocolate, show that a staggering one in six respondents would find it easier to give up sex (15%) and a fifth would rather kick their coffee habit (18%) than chocolate. If these results were repeated countrywide, around 380,000 adults would find it easier to give up sex and 460,000 would rather ditch caffeine than chocolate.
Around a quarter polled (around 590,000 adults) would rather give up social media or nights in, watching their favourite shows on Netflix (23%).
The figures have been released on the eve of the BHF’s Dechox campaign – the charity’s annual challenge to get people to give up chocolate for the month of February to raise funds for the BHF’s life-saving research.
Wales’ infatuation with chocolate is clear to see and it seems that many can’t get the sweet stuff off their mind. On average, people think about chocolate three times a day – the equivalent of 1,095 times a year.
This leads to the average person eating chocolate five times a week, consuming around 180g – the equivalent of four small chocolate bars. In total, the adult population in Wales consumes an estimated 463 tonnes of chocolate a week – the same weight as 37 double-decker buses.
For many people, the extent of their love for chocolate leads to them keeping it hush-hush by indulging away from prying eyes. Around a third of people (31%) have admitted to waking up in the middle of the night and eating chocolate, and over two-fifths of the population in Wales have waited until a partner, friend or family member has left the room before tucking into their chocolate treats (42%).
People just can’t seem to live without chocolate, with only one in six people (15%) previously attempting to erase chocolate from their diet. This February, the BHF is encouraging everyone to put their will power to the test by giving up chocolate for the entire month to help raise money for life-saving research into heart and circulatory diseases.
Adam Fletcher, Head of BHF Cymru, said: “Our love of chocolate is plain to see and we are undoubtedly infatuated with the sweet stuff. From the moment we wake up to go to sleep, this survey reveals the lengths people will go to so they don’t have to part with their chocolate.
“By challenging yourself to a Dechox this February, you will be able to put your will power to the test whilst raising funds for our vital research. Ditching the chocolate for 28 days will leave you feeling like you’ve conquered something huge and the money you raise will help fund breakthroughs to help beat heart and circulatory diseases for good.”
Send chocolate packing and challenge yourself to a Dechox this February. Give up chocolate for a month, and raise funds for BHF’s life-saving research.
Find out more at: www.bhf.org.uk/dechox
