Bold plan to ban KFC and other fast-food outlets from near schools in WA

A bold proposal to ban fast-food outlets from being near schools has been floated in one state to tackle a growing obesity crisis.

Fast-food outlets would be banned from being near schools and their opening hours slashed under a bold plan to tackle the growing obesity crisis in Western Australia.

One in four children and 71 per cent of adults in WA are overweight or obese and 86 per cent of schools have at least one fast-food store within 1km as per a report released by the state’s Department of Health.

Fast food is the scourge of West Australians. Picture: Marie Nirme

The report shows the impact of proximity, location and density of unhealthy fast-food outlets on dietary intake and obesity in children.

“Between 2005 and 2010, there were 28 fast-food outlets within 3km of the average home in Perth, with only 10 healthy food outlets,” the report stated.

Perth schools have an average of 1.8 fast-food outlets within 400m. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Perth schools have an average of 1.8 fast-food outlets within 400m and 8.1 outlets within 1km, according to studies conducted during 2017 and 2019.

At the same time, the report found healthy food outlets within 800m of a “person’s home were consistently associated with a decreased risk” of children being obese or overweight.

The WA Department of Health flagged changes in planning laws to restrict fast-food outlets from opening near schools and slashing their opening hours.

Fast food equals poor diet.

Another possible solution to the ever-growing obesity issue is “building healthy food outlets” near schools or activity centres to “facilitate multiple activities as part of one trip”.

“Evidence for a link between exposure to unhealthy food environments and poor diet is accumulating,” the Department of Health claimed.

“Unhealthy food environments can adversely affect food consumption and be a driver of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.

“Improving community food environments is an equitable approach to support consumers to make healthier food and beverage choices and reduce their risk of obesity and chronic diseases.”

Originally published as Bold plan to ban KFC and other fast-food outlets from near schools in WA