The town's obesity crisis has been linked to a proliferation of junk food outlets. Major media reports state that 73% of restaurants in Ebbw Vale are junk food outlets, and there are 15 kebab shops in the town. Across Blaenau Gwent, there are 87 fast food takeaways and 17 mobile catering businesses, totaling over 100 junk food outlets.
Some larger chains like McDonald's are not officially registered as takeaways but as restaurants, according to reports. The high density of these outlets has raised concerns among health experts about the impact on residents' diets and overall health. In response, Blaenau Gwent council has announced plans to ban advertisements of ultra-processed food on council-owned land.
Last September, the council also prevented a barber shop from being converted into a fast-food outlet. Councillor Helen Cunningham said at a press conference that the move shows the council is serious about addressing health inequalities affecting the borough. Councillor Sonia Behr noted that such advertisements catch attention and prompt impulse purchases of unhealthy food.
However, some residents feel the measures are insufficient. According to Daily Express - UK News, a local man described the town as depressed and said it has gone to the dogs since the pits closed. He criticized the council for allowing too many kebab shops and urged them to attract better businesses.
The town has also attracted international attention. A Canadian YouTuber made a video about Ebbw Vale, calling it Britain's 'fattest' town. In the video, the YouTuber commented on the friendliness of the locals, attributing it to being well fed, and a local woman remarked that obesity is normalized and prevalent in the town.