Key Summary
- Southend council plans to restrict fast food outlets near schools due to rising childhood obesity
- 33.8 per cent of children are obese by end of primary school
- A broader obesity strategy and public input into the Local Plan are underway
Southend-on-Sea city council has decided to prohibit fast food outlets nearby schools as a result of appalling data regarding obesity in children.
The council made the announcement during the cabinet meeting on Monday, highlighting that 33.8 per cent of Southend’s children are obese by the end of primary school.
They also stressed that 22.7 per cent children here are overweight even before starting school.
The study has identified that the obesity rates are higher among children from low income families.
Southend hosts 219 fast food outlets, mostly in its poorest neighbourhoods, surpassing the national average.
The cabinet member for social care and healthier communities, Maxine Sadza claimed school children were ordering takeaways to the school gates.
She added that the rise in the number of food delivery apps has defeated the issue of proximity. She also urged the leading companies to leave children out of their marketing strategies to control the condition.
The cabinet meeting derived multiple preventive measure to the rising issue of childhood obesity such as healthy menus at primary schools, increased physical activities via leisure centres, weight management at the family centres, etc.
Southend’s director of public health, Krishna Ramkhelawon in his annual public health report commented, "post-pandemic, the struggle to address childhood obesity has shown no sign of easing”.
He said the council is planning for a broad childhood obesity strategy that would deal with diet and nutrition, physical activity and alteration of unhealthy food environment.
The council urged for contribution from each resident into the Local Plan to restrict fast food outlets near the schools.
The Local Plan will include a draft policy on health and wellbeing, showing how planning can help reduce health inequalities.
