Masterchef : The Professionals 2016 winner Gary Maclean is publicising Obesity and Cancer Awareness Week

Masterchef: The Professionals 2016 winner Gary Maclean was served up an unsavoury dish in Glasgow this week – a large lump of body fat on a silver platter of doughnuts.

Highlighting the unpalatable consequences of supermarket multi-buy offers on junk food and drink, the weighty plate was served up to the talented chef as part of Obesity and Cancer Awareness Week, a new joint initiative by Cancer Research UK and Obesity Action Scotland.

Last week’s Scottish Health Survey showed that 65% of adults were overweight or obese in 2016, whilst 29% of children were at risk of being overweight or obese.

Obesity is linked to 13 different types of cancer and is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK, after smoking.

Now Cancer Research UK and Obesity Action Scotland are demanding strong action from the Scottish Government to reduce the risk of these cancers when it publishes its obesity strategy next year.

They are calling on the government to introduce regulations to restrict multi-buy offers on unhealthy food and drink, paving the way for supermarkets to promote nutritious alternatives.

TV cooking show winner Maclean said: “To see and feel what five pounds of body fat actually looks like is really shocking. It’s hard to believe so many of us are carrying extra weight around on our bodies all the time.”

Research UK cancer prevention expert Professor Linda Bauld, who is based at the University of Stirling, said: “It’s clear to us all that the Scottish Government has a once in a generation opportunity to introduce measures that will have a profound impact on our lives.

“Much more needs to be done to raise awareness of the unpalatable consequences of carrying too much weight.”