The UK could soon have to tighten fast food outlets near schools in order to put more teeth behind fast food businesses and tackle the country’s obesity crisis.
MPs are calling for the government to act to keep children away from eating unhealthy food items and promote healthier foods so that children are not exposed to unhealthy products and eat healthier foods.
As part of a larger public health campaign to reduce obesity levels in children and young people, that proposal is part of that larger plan. Fast food access close to educational institutions has long been suspected of encouraging unhealthy eating habits that result in obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Some local councils in England already have planning policies restricting the opening of new takeaway outlets within a certain distance of schools. Parliamentarians now want a more national approach in which similar restrictions are applied across the country and not just to local authorities.
Public health advocates say reducing fast food outlets around schools would help students eat healthier food during lunch breaks and after school. And in the fight against childhood obesity we need to improve the local food environment with nutrition education and physical activity.
The parliamentary discussions also include suggestions to improve regulations on advertising unhealthy food to children and to improve nutritional standards and encourage healthier meals to be available in all communities.
Obesity is one of the UK’s biggest public health challenges. And the government has always said that excessive weight increases the risk of serious diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and high blood pressure. Childhood obesity is especially concerning because it often continues into adulthood and therefore the long-term healthcare costs and quality of life are much lower.
As a result, proponents of the proposed restrictions say children are heavily influenced by their surroundings. Fast food outlets near schools make unhealthy food easier to access and cheaper than healthy ones. They believe urban planning should be a bigger part of the kids’ health equation.
Business owners and industry groups have also challenged the proposals. Restaurant and takeaway industry representatives say blanket restrictions would hurt small firms and not tackle the real causes of obesity. Education, parental responsibility and balanced diet should be at the heart of the solution.
But public health organisations contend that environmental changes are important to making healthier communities. They cite studies of neighbourhood diets where fast food outlets are less common and healthier eating habits are developed.
The UK government has already introduced several anti-obesity measures in recent years, including restrictions on promotions for foods high in fat, salt and sugar, calorie labelling in large restaurants and limits on junk food advertising during children’s television programming.
As Parliament debates this, the move to curb fast food outlets near schools is part of the UK’s wider agenda to reduce obesity and help children’s health.
The policy of whether the recommendation will become national policy will be decided by future governments but also preventive healthcare and better urban development are still the subject of debate.
