TV characters slammed for on-screen unhealthy lifestyles

Television's top shows have come under fire by health experts for the unhealthy lifestyles of their best loved characters.

According to a new research, the serials set a bad example as they exemplify unhealthy diets and high levels of boozing.

Scientists analysed more than 830 scenes from four popular soaps - Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks- for over two weeks and found that that 72 percent of the food characters ate or talked about was unhealthy, the Daily Star reported.

The study, which was carried out by The Co-Op and Liverpool John Moores University Business School, showed that they knocked back dangerous amounts of booze, with 57 percent of their drinks being alcoholic or sugary, while just 6 percent were healthy.

It was found that exercise was non-existent on the soaps, with only five references to it.

Psychologist Dr Aric Sigman said: "It's a case of you are what you watch.