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Given it’s a Saturday, you might well be licking your lips at the thought of tucking into pizza tonight.

But takeaway pizzas can be packed with up to 3,800 calories, analysis shows.

This is the equivalent of around 87 chicken nuggets from McDonald’s, or seven Big Macs.

MailOnline’s audit involved more than 500 dishes sold at chains such as Domino’s, Papa John’s and Pizza Hut. 

Our full investigation, which also scoured the menus of Fireaway and Pizza Pilgrims, is laid bare in a fascinating table.

Papa John topped the charts with a large Philly Cheesesteak, which had a whopping 3,744 calories when made with a stuffed pepperoni crust.

In fact, the chain, which has more than 450 outlets in Britain, rounded out the whole top ten with a variety of its dishes. 

After Papa John’s came Domino’s, with its large Meatfielder on a double decadence base coming 11th with 3,471 calories. 

This is the same as what can be found in approximately three tubs of Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Sandwich Up Vanilla ice cream. 

Domino’s’ double decadence base is made by sandwiching two thin ones together with a garlic and herb cheese in the middle. 

Many of these large pizzas are made for sharing, but even if they were split between two or three, you could still be chomping down on over a 1,000 calories.

Adults are advised to consume between 2,000 and 2,500 calories as day, 2,000 for women and 2,500 for men. 

Papa John topped the charts with a large Philly Cheesesteak, which had a whopping 3,744 calories when made with a stuffed pepperoni crust

After Papa John’s came Domino’s, with its large Meatfielder on a double decadence base coming 11th with 3,471 calories.

This is the same as what can be found in approximately three tubs of Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Sandwich Up Vanilla ice cream.

At Pizza Hut the most calorific pizza in the audit is the Meat Feast Hot with a stuffed crust, at 2,904 calories. 

Some vegan, veggie and gluten free pizzas have the lowest calories. 

For example the vegan margherita at Pizza Hut on a gluten free base is 876 calories. But a pizza of the same size on a normal base with non-vegan cheese is almost 200 calories more. 

Although it contains less than some of the worst offenders this vegan pizza is still the equivalent to eating two McPlant burgers in McDonalds. 

Thick pizza bases and cheesy or meat stuffed crusts are where the calories start to stack up. 

A spokesperson from Domino’s Pizza Group said: ‘Our large pizzas are designed to feed up to four people and when shared in that way, our range is below the government’s target for the maximum calories for a pizza. 

‘We also offer pizzas such as the Meatfielder in a personal size for one person, which contains 837 calories when ordered with a classic crust.’

Fireaway Pizza commented: ‘A pizza is usually shared between two people although we pride ourselves on being one of the healthier fresher options on the market.’

A spokesperson for Papa Johns said the Philly Cheesesteak pizza with a pepperoni stuffed crust divides into ten slices, adding that they ‘regard a portion as one slice,’ which is 372 calories. 

The pizza chain added: ‘We publish all of our nutritional information in full and comprehensive detail, so that consumers can make informed choices from a wide range of pizzas, including many vegan options and the ability to customise.’

The analysis involved large pizzas at Domino’s, Papa John’s and Pizza Hut. Only one size was available at the other two chains. 

WHAT SHOULD A BALANCED DIET LOOK LIKE?

Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain, according to the NHS

• Eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables count

• Base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain

• 30 grams of fibre a day: This is the same as eating all of the following: 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, 2 whole-wheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of wholemeal bread and large baked potato with the skin on

• Have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks) choosing lower fat and lower sugar options

• Eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 portions of fish every week, one of which should be oily)

• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consuming in small amounts

• Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water a day

• Adults should have less than 6g of salt and 20g of saturated fat for women or 30g for men a day

Source: NHS Eatwell Guide