WA’s War on Fast Food: Restrictions Proposed to Combat Obesity Crisis

It’s no secret that fast food outlets are a major contributor to the growing obesity crisis in WA. With 71% of adults and one in four children in the state overweight or obese, it’s clear that something needs to be done to curb the issue. The WA Department of Health recently released a report outlining how the proximity, location and density of unhealthy fast food outlets impact dietary intake and obesity. In Perth, there were 28 fast food outlets within 3km of the average home, compared to only 10 healthy food outlets. This is a concerning statistic, especially when you consider that 86% of schools had at least one fast food store within 1km.

It’s not just the location of fast food outlets that is a problem, but also the marketing tactics used by the industry. Fast food outlets spend millions of dollars to market their products and brands, including to children. This can make it difficult for families to make healthy food choices, especially when faced with the cost of living crisis.

The Department of Health has proposed a range of strategies to reduce access to unhealthy food, such as changing planning laws to restrict the ability for fast food outlets to be built near schools, as well as restricting the opening hours of outlets located near schools. Building healthy food outlets near schools or activity centres is also recommended as a possible solution.

It’s important to remember that fast food outlets are not the only contributors to unhealthy eating habits. Santa Claus is often used to reward children with unhealthy treats, which can lead to unhealthy eating habits. Parents should be mindful of the food they give their children, and encourage them to make healthy choices.