Fast Food and Proximity to Schools: What’s Wrong With the Picture? at He's Fit

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Fast Food and Proximity to Schools: What’s Wrong With the Picture?

Posted January 3, 2008 at 01:30 PM by Denise Musumeci

Section: In The News, His Health, Physical Health, Lifestyle Health, His Nutrition, Healthy Eating

fast food Childhood obesity is an ever-growing problem in our society. Many schools are making a valiant effort to fight weight problems more and more children face today. These efforts include evising lunch menus, eliminating soda and vending machines and incorporating better fitness programs. While revising the lunch menu with healthy food choices is a great idea, what do we do about food choices right around the corner?

Researchers from the University of Illinois observed the locations of 31,000 middle and high schools and compared them with the locations of over 129,000 fast food restaurants and convenience stores. More than a third of the middle and high schools were located within a half mile of a convenience or fast food restaurant. In urban areas, these eateries were more centralized around schools, with over two-thirds of the schools within walking distance from these restaurants or stores.

The locations of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores are particularly important, especially when they lie near high schools. Because more than two thirds of high school students do not take the bus to school, they may choose to stop at these places before and after school. If a student walks, rides a bike, or drives to school, they are free to stop for a quick bite.

burger king chicken A study performed in Chicago examined the trends of fast food and convenience store locations near schools across the country. The fast food chains are also disproportionately located around schools compared to other parts of the city and more than three quarters of the city’s schools are within half a mile from these places. A study in Atlanta, Georgia found that fast food restaurants were located much closer to middle schools than sit-down restaurants and grocery stores.

It is obvious that the efforts of schools to encourage healthy eating are counteracted by the convenient location of fast food nearby. To avoid this, schools may implement rules stating that students must eat on campus and cannot leave school grounds for lunch. New schools may be zoned away from fast food places, however those efforts may be temporary if a fast food chain decides to open up a restaurant nearby at a future date. The best way for children to avoid obesity would be for the parents to not only monitor what their kids eat before school, but also to encourage healthy eating at home as well. Families that serve healthy options at home have a better chance of their kids choosing healthy foods rather than fast food. Folks who do not make healthy food choices at home cannot expect their kids to avoid unhealthy foods when they are on their own before and after school, but by encouraging exercise and nutritious food, kids have a better shot at staying healthy.

Research sources and for more information: [NY Times]; [picture]; [picture2]