RECIPES created by popular TV chefs contain significantly more energy, protein, fat, and saturated fat per portion than supermarket ready meals, according to North-East researchers.

The researchers - based at NHS Tees and Newcastle University - suggest that cookery books by TV chefs should include nutritional information on recipes.

They also believe that consideration should also be given to regulating recipes demonstrated by television chefs similar to that limiting advertisement of foods classified as high in fat, salt, or sugar.

By 2020, it is estimated that more than 70 per cent of adult in the United Kingdom will be overweight, boosting rates of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

Previous studies suggest that both supermarket ready meals and television chef recipes influence many peoples' diets, but no study has comprehensively examined the nutritional content of either.

So, a team of researchers based at NHS Tees and Newcastle University analysed the nutritional content of television chef recipes with own brand supermarket ready meals. They then compared both types of meals to dietary guidelines published by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).

They randomly selected 100 meal recipes by UK television chefs and 100 own brand ready meals from the three leading UK supermarkets.

Recipes were included by Jamie Oliver, Lorraine Pascale, Nigella Lawson and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Own brand ready meals were from Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco. Both types of meals tended to be high in protein, fat, saturated fat, and salt, low in carbohydrate, and within the recommended range for sugar.

Meals based on television chef recipes were less healthy than ready meals.

The recipes were also more likely to achieve "red traffic light" labels than ready meals.

They say that maximum nutritional benefit is likely to be derived from "home cooking" rather than relying on ready meals or recipes by television chefs.