THE BRITISH Heart Foundation are advising people to 'choc' how much chocolate they're really eating, after their survey suggests the average person from the South West could eat around 5,560 chocolate bars, 1,580 slices of chocolate cake and 8,630 chocolate biscuits in their lifetime.

The survey also found that on average, a person from the South West could indulge themselves with around 2,900 mugs of hot cocoa, 120 Easter eggs and up to 2,850 miniature chocolates over the course of their life.

These surprising figures have been released ahead of the British Heart Foundation's annual Dechox campaign which challenges chocolate lovers to give up chocolate for the entirety of March to raise money for lifesaving work.

Dechox Campaign Manager at the British Heart Foundation, Jo Pullin said: "We know that chocolate isn’t an essential part of a healthy diet but is a much-loved indulgence in the UK. It’s easy to lose track of how much chocolate we’re consuming."

"It can be difficult to break our chocolate habits but Dechox is the perfect way to help cut your chocolate cravings whilst raising money for a good cause."

The South West have an undeniable love of chocolate, with 50 per cent admitting they haven’t and wouldn’t try to give up the sweet stuff.

Jo added: "We know we’re a nation of chocolate lovers and that’s why we’re calling on the nation to put their will power to the test this March for a fantastic cause. Anything with cocoa in it is off limits ‐ from the sprinkles on your cappuccino, to that 3pm chocolate bar. We know the people of the South West are up to the challenge."

"It might be a rocky road but Dechox is a great way to help curb your chocolate cravings and fund the British Heart Foundation’s vital research into heart and circulatory conditions, which around 720,000 people are living with in the South West."

Since Dechox's inception in 2015, more than 100,000 people have ditched the Dairy Milk and have taken part, raising over £4.5m for the BHF's vital research.

In the UK alone, around 170,000 people lose their lives to a heart or circulatory disease each year– that’s one person every three minutes.

By joining the thousands of other Dechoxers, you can help the BHF keep more hearts beating and blood flowing.

Sign up now at www.bhf.org.uk/dechox