Will Tennyson was shocked by how many people were in McDonald’s (Image: YouTube/Will Tennyson )
A town dubbed the “fattest in the UK” left a Canadian influencer stunned, particularly when he walked into a McDonald’s. Ebbw Vale, nestled in the south Wales Valleys, has been labelled as Britain’s top spot for obesity troubles due to its disproportionate number of takeaways. A whopping 73% of eateries there serve fast food.
YouTube star and Toronto native Will Tennyson embarked on a journey across the pond to dig into the heart of the health crisis afflicting this once thriving steel community.
The stark reality behind the grim health data left him rather unsettled. Upon arriving at his hotel, the sombre revelation from the receptionist was: “We are known as the fattest town in Britain. There’s not an awful lot to be honest with you. There isn’t a great deal around here other than kebab shops and vape shops.”
To add insult to injury, his hotel room welcomed him with an arsenal of fast food leaflets, a choice he deems “absolutely insane”. The next day, Will took to the streets of Ebbw Vale, and immediately, the aromatic lure of food hit him. His observation echoed the local warnings: “They were not kidding about the kebab houses, they are actually everywhere. We probably passed 15 on the way here.”
He praised the locals for their warmth (Image: YouTube/Will Tennyson )
At Frenchie’s cafe, he tackled the ‘Big Daddy’ challenge: a gargantuan feast comprised of four sausages, two black puddings, beans, bacon, three hashbrowns, four eggs, tomatoes, and a mighty six slices of bread.
Will commented on the congenial nature of the residents of Ebbw Vale, revealing that upon asking a cafe worker about the challenge of staying healthy in the area, she responded: “The wages are not very good. The prices of everything have gone up.”
He went on to note the kindheartedness apparent in the town: “Everybody here is so nice, like this entire town. It is probably because they are well fed. Like you don’t want to deal with angry people, right?”
With a positive outlook, he expressed his affection for the locale in a succinct four-word review: “Great place to be.”
However, conversations with locals soon revealed economic strains, including a woman who, despite her impressive nine stone weight loss over a year, observed: “Obesity is normalised and everybody here is obese. It is a lack of education and social normality and the environment you are living in.”
A young man shared his struggles with finding employment due to his lack of experience, which led him to forgo gym memberships and opt for more affordable meal choices.
Not a breakfast he will be forgetting any time soon (Image: YouTube/Will Tennyson )
Will concluded his report by addressing the camera, noting the high unemployment rates in the area, stating: “A lot of people here don’t have jobs. They are living off the state. The cheap food is absolutely crucial for them to survive. They can’t afford the healthier foods which is why there is only one green grocer in the entire town.”
With this in mind, Will decided to pay a visit to the Fresh N Fruity green grocer, where he found it eerily quiet. He picked up a packet of six duck eggs priced at £3.50, pointing out that nearby Greggs was offering a breakfast roll and hot drink for a mere £2.95.
Reflecting on his findings, he conceded it was “hard to argue with the convenience” and noted that a butternut squash cost more than an entire pizza advertised for just £1.50 in a shop window close by.
Inside that shop, Heron Foods, an employee informed Will that the fruit and veg aisle was the least frequented, and that maintaining a healthy diet was “really expensive”. This has led to some rather unflattering headlines in recent years, including reports of households ordering takeaways thrice daily and driveways being obstructed by queues for McDonald’s.
This prompted Will to check out the local Maccies, where customers can reportedly wait up to half an hour to be served. Upon entering, he observed: “The place is absolutely packed. I was walking the town and I was like, ‘Where is everybody?’ They are all here. This must be the unofficial town hall. Just a constant stream of cars and inside it is ridiculous.”
Later in the day, Will popped into a pizza shop where Thursdays offer a buy one get one free deal. As he enjoyed his fast food, he noticed a shop across the street selling incredibly cheap alcohol.
He was left sympathising with the locals (Image: YouTube/Will Tennyson )
He remarked: “You are literally set up for failure everywhere you go here. Think about a recovering alcoholic working at a brewery. That is what it would be like. If you are trying to lose weight and you are surrounded… I can’t imagine how hard it would be.”
Will, who shed a significant amount of weight in his youth, expressed doubts about the feasibility of achieving such a transformation in Ebbw Vale. He continued: “It is really scary to think about and I feel really bad for people that are here. It is all they know and you only know what you know and they are brought up on the same habits as their parents and it is a generational trickle down effect.”
Despite recognising the financial barriers preventing locals from affording gym memberships, he noted that during his stay, he didn’t spot a single person cycling or jogging in the area.
Nevertheless, Will’s overriding sentiment was one of empathy, and in wrapping up his vlog, he reflected: “24 hours in the UK’s most obese town was eye-opening. People here are kind of trapped.
“They have limited options to lead a healthy lifestyle and challenging the status quo is immensely tough; when money woes come into play, it’s not about health anymore, it’s purely about survival and ensuring there’s food on the table.”
To watch Will’s visit to Ebbw Vale in full, you can do so here