London's UNHEALTHIEST boroughs: Tesco Clubcard data reveals the areas where people eat the least nutritious foods - so, how does your neighbourhood stack up?

London's unhealthiest boroughs have been revealed by stark data that illustrates the city's 'food deserts'.

Researchers analysed the food purchasing records of 1.6 million people who shopped at Tesco to understand what people are regularly buying.

Their analysis revealed clear differences across boroughs – with some residents suffering from a nutritionally inadequate diet.

And this could be fuelling rising levels of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

The food and drink purchases were organised into 12 categories – grains, sweets, soft drinks, fruit and veg, fish, red meat, poultry, sauces, fats and oils, eggs, dairy and ready meals. 

People living in certain boroughs are fuelled by sugar, carbs and ultra–processed options – areas known as 'food deserts', they discovered.

Meanwhile other areas, where residents eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and fish, have been dubbed 'food oases'.

So, how does your neighbourhood stack up?

The study revealed distinct geographic areas where residents regularly turn to unhealthy options, forgoing fresh, high–fibre and high–protein meals.

Some of the most prominent food deserts appeared in London's east end, including Newham, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham.

Residents living in parts of the capital's north–west, such as Ealing and Brent, are also not eating an adequate diet, they found.

Meanwhile inner north–west boroughs such as Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham and Westminster consistently made the most nutritious purchases.

Parts of Southwark and Wandsworth were also designated 'food oasis' areas, their data shows, as well as Camden and Islington. 

Across the majority of areas, income was highly linked to unhealthy purchases, with those earning less more likely to turn to foods high in sugar and carbohydrates.

Food deserts were also more likely to have higher proportions of Black, Asian and minority ethnic residents, they found.

The researchers said their study, published in the journal PLOS Complex Systems, provides an unprecedented look at what people are eating.

Rather than simply analysing the number of supermarkets in a given area, by looking at purchases they can really show variations between boroughs.

Lead researcher Tayla Broadbridge, from the University of Nottingham, said: 'We are rethinking urban food deserts: purchase data, not supermarket locations, shows the reality of access to healthy food in London.

'A map of food stores only shows potential access – food purchase data shows the reality, revealing where Londoner's diets are nutritionally deficient.

'Our findings emphasise the need for targeted interventions that address local food access issues according to specific socioeconomic characteristics.

'A 'one–size–fits–all' approach is not the most effective way of addressing food deserts in London, and interventions should be tailored to the local level to maximise the effectiveness and compliance.'

The scientists pointed out previous studies which have found shopping at Tesco Express is 10 per cent more expensive than the larger stores.

This can add up to a yearly price difference of more than £800, they revealed.

'Financial barriers were found to be a key driver of food deserts', they said, adding that interventions to make food more affordable should be prioritised in these areas.

Poor diet and nutrition are a leading global risk to health, and accounts for 13 per cent of deaths in the UK.

Diets high in processed foods, sugars, and fats are known to cause obesity and are associated with a range of negative health outcomes including high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

In recent years, 61 per cent of London's adult population were classed as overweight or obese, and childhood obesity rates for ages 10–11 were higher than the England average.

Increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanisation, and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns, the researchers said.