Average BBQ meal ‘contains more than 2,500 calories’

Women hoping to lose weight quickly should steer clear of the barbeque, as the average meal produced at these events contains more than 2,500 calories, recent research has revealed.

A study conducted by the Tony Ferguson Weightloss Programme and Boots found that men consume even more at the average BBQ, eating as many as 3,500 calories.

It also discovered that most families will hold four BBQs each summer, which hints at why many people find that they gain weight at this time of year.

Sarah Battishall, nutritionist for the Tony Ferguson Weightloss Programme, said that people use summer social occasions as an excuse to indulge.

"Every once in a while this is okay, but this year Britain has been very fortunate with the hot weather making BBQs a more regular occasion," she added.

A separate study, conducted on behalf of Yakult, recently revealed that 14 per cent of people consumed more food and drink than normal this summer due to the World Cup tournament.

How many BBQs have you attend this summer and did you overindulge?