A study of more than 9000 people has found that a quarter of those who were seriously in debt were clinically obese.

A recent study by scientists in Germany has found a ‘significant link’ between indebtedness and obesity. Victims of the credit crunch are more likely to struggle with a balanced diet than those who were not as badly affected.

Study leader Dr Eva Munster, from the University of Mainz, said: “The recent credit crunch will have health implications for private households. While income, education and occupational status are frequently used in definitions of socio-economic status, levels of debt are not usually considered.

“We’ve shown that debt can be associated with the probability of being overweight or obese, independent of these factors.”
The researches commented on the high price of healthy food and a tendency for people who are worried by debt to ‘comfort eat’.

Dr Munster added: “A person’s ability to pick and choose the food they eat often depends on the financial resources they have available.

“Energy-dense foods such as sweets or fatty snacks are often less expensive compared to food with lower energy density such as fruit or vegetables.”