A British Heart Foundation (BHF) survey suggests the average person from the West Midlands could eat around 6,870 chocolate bars, 2,110 slices of chocolate cake and 7,580 chocolate biscuits in their lifetime.
The survey also found on average people from the West Midlands could indulge themselves with around 2,850 mugs of hot cocoa, 130 Easter eggs and up to 2,860 miniature chocolates over the course of their life.
The figures have been released ahead of the BHF’s annual Dechox campaign. The nation’s favourite heart charity is challenging chocolate lovers to put their will power to the test and give up chocolate for the month of March to raise funds for its lifesaving work.
Galaxy topped the poll as the region’s favourite chocolate bar, beating Snickers by a narrow margin. Crunchie came in third place followed closely by the classics KitKat, Flake and Wispa.
Jo Pullin, Dechox Campaign Manager at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: “We know that chocolate isn’t an essential part of a healthy diet but is a much-loved indulgence in the UK.
“Whether it’s in cakes, biscuits, a tasty dessert or a chocolate bar, there are so many options available it’s easy to lose track of how much chocolate we’re consuming.
“It can be difficult to break our chocolate habits but Dechox is the perfect way to help cut your chocolate cravings whilst raising money for a good cause.”
The survey also revealed that two-fifths (40%) of people from the West Midlands claim chocolate is their favourite food, and nearly the same percentage (39%) confessed to being chocoholics.
It seems that the regions love of chocolate is undeniable with 47% admitting they haven’t and wouldn’t try to give up the sweet stuff. Of the 20% who HAVE attempted to take a Time Out from chocolate, they have managed to last an average of 19 days before caving to cravings.
Jo Pullin added: “We know we’re a nation of chocolate lovers and that’s why we’re calling on the nation to put their will power to the test this March for a fantastic cause.
“Anything with cocoa in it is off limits ‐ from the sprinkles on your cappuccino, to that 3pm chocolate bar. We know the people of the West Midlands are up to the challenge.
“It might be a rocky road but Dechox is a great way to help curb your chocolate cravings and fund the British Heart Foundation’s vital research into heart and circulatory conditions, which around 660,000 people are living with in the West Midlands.”
Since Dechox began in 2015 more than 100,000 people have ditched the sweet stuff and taken part. Their Aero-ic efforts have raised over £4.5m for the BHF’s vital research into heart and circulatory diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke and vascular dementia, and the risk factors that cause them, like diabetes. The charity is now calling on even more people take a (chocolate) break and get involved this March.
Each year, in the UK around 170,000 people lose their lives to a heart or circulatory disease – that’s one person every three minutes. By joining the thousands of other Dechoxers, you can help the BHF keep more hearts beating and blood flowing.
