'We are a chubby community', locals respond after famous ‘gymfluencer' slams town
Ebbw Vale earned the unofficial title of UK's 'fattest' town back in 2023 after a report published by 'Now Patient' revealed Blaenau Gwent has highest rate of obesity in Wales.
The report highlighted nearly 80 per cent of adults were deemed either overweight or obese (with a BMI score of 25 or higher).
Since then, the town has played host to a range of popular internet content creators fascinated by these stats.
Youtuber Will Tennyson at Ebbw Vale train station (Image: You Tube) Most recently was Will Tennyson,= a 30-year-old 'gymfluencer' hailing from Canada.
Having travelled over 3,000 miles from greater Toronto. Tennyson has 3.39 million subscribers.
Whilst in Ebbw Vale Tennyson didn't leave the town centre frequenting takeaways and neglecting chain supermarkets located only a few miles down the road.
Youtuber Will Tennyson in Ebbw Vale Greggs (Image: You Tube) To begin the video, he claims: 'I'm in Ebbw Vale where fast food isn't just a treat it's a way of life.
'For the next 24 hours I'm going to eat like a local eating my way through this town to understand the real struggles behind these stats.'
Other statements included: 'I feel really bad for people who are here because it's all they know…they only know what they know'
So, what do locals think about being called the UK's 'fattest' town?
Sarah Clay of Caffe Della Citta reacting to label of UK's 'fattest' town. (Image: NQ) 41-year-old Sarah Clay runs Caffe Della Citta.
She raised the issue of food poverty.
Sarah said: 'I'm overweight myself and I know my BMI is obese. I think most people around here could do with eating a little bit healthier.
'But we are stuck in a crisis, aren't we? If a punnet of strawberries is £3.50 and a family sized bag of crisps is £2.00, what do you do?
'Nobody ever wants to hear the truth we probably are quite a chubby community, but he was quite rude about it.'
Ebbw Vale town centre (Ebbw Vale reacts after famous 'gymfluecner' slams town in new mockumentary) (Image: NQ) Councillor Helen Cunningham Cabinet Member for Adult and Communities said: 'It is always disappointing when people seek to capitalise on and peddle derogatory stereotypes of our communities.
'We are talking about places that have endured high rates of poverty that harms people in multiple ways throughout life.
'As a council we are committed to working for an equitable settlement and addressing the invidious structural inequalities at the root of these challenges.'
Keyon Davies in Ebbw Vale town reacting to label of UK's 'fattest' town. (Image: NQ) 30-year-old Keyon Davies said: 'I think it's pretty spot on to be honest. I've lived here most of my life and my grandparents are quite obese as well.
'I do find that it's the older generations that are stuck in their ways.'
I wouldn't say it's the fattest town, but we do struggle with healthy living.'
Jodie of Fresh and Fruity Ebbw Vale (Image: NQ) 39-year-old Jodie works in Fresh and Fruity. She was interviewed by Tennyson.
She said: 'I thought he was quite genuine, but he never said anything about obesity.
'It would have been nice to know that was his intentions. It's the same as everywhere there's some people that look after themselves and there's some that don't.'
Wayne Grist of Grist's Butchers Ebbw Vale reacting to label of UK's 'fattest' town. (Image: NQ) 60-year-old Wayne Grist runs Grist's butchers.
Commenting on the label of 'fattest' town he said: 'I don't think it's what they eat I think it's the amount they eat if you are living in Greggs and are eating quite a lot, you're going to put that weight on.'
Beryl and Malcolm Cross reacting to label of UK's 'fattest' town. (Image: NQ) Beryl and Malcolm Cross (75 and 77) are retirees. They thought it was a generational issue.
Malcom said: 'That's all there is here fast-food places we look around at some people that live here, and we are lucky that we are like we are because we take care of ourselves.
'They're not exercising and once you get a certain size you can't exercise.'
Beryl added: 'It's a different generation, not enough home cooking.'
The controversial video can be viewed here.
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