Would you like fries with that? Investigating fast‐food outlet availability near schools in Perth, Western Australia

Abstract

Issue addressed: Locating fast-food outlets near schools is a potential public health risk to schoolchildren, given the easy access and repeated exposure to energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods they provide. Fast-food outlet availability near schools has not been previously investigated in Perth, Western Australia. This study aimed to quantify fast-food outlet availability near Perth schools and determine whether differences in area-level disadvantage and school type exist. Methods: Fast-food outlet locations were sourced from Perth Local Governments in 2018/2019. All Perth Primary (n = 454), Secondary (n = 107) and K-12 (n = 94) schools were assigned an area-level disadvantage decile ranking based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA). Regression models assessed whether fast-food outlet availability within 400 m, 800 m and 1 km of schools differed by school type (ie, Primary/Secondary/K-12) or SEIFA.Results: Secondary schools were significantly more likely than Primary and K-12 schools to have a higher presence and density of fast-food outlets and the "Top 4" fast-food outlet chains (McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, KFC and Red Rooster) nearby. Schools located in low socio-economic status (SES) areas had a significantly higher density of fast-food outlets within 400 m, and "Top 4" fast-food outlet chains within 400 m and 1 km, than schools located in high SES area.Conclusions: Perth schools are surrounded by fast-food outlets with densities significantly higher around secondary schools and schools located in lower SES areas.So what?: Policies and regulations aimed at reducing fast-food outlets near schools is an essential strategy to improve dietary intakes and reduce obesity in schoolchildren.

Development of a Scoring Tool for Australian Rural Food Retail Environments

“…Specific outlets can be ranked according to healthiness and mapped in proximity to areas of interest [23]. This information could provide evidence for the petition of health professionals and residents for changes to state government planning laws to prevent the further proliferation of unhealthy outlets around such settings where high-priority or vulnerable populations frequent [41]. Additionally, it could be used to determine locations in which the food supply chain requires further resourcing.…”

Changes in the number of new takeaway food outlets associated with adoption of management zones around schools: A natural experimental evaluation in England

“…This has resulted in a social gradient in exposure, which may contribute to observed health inequalities in the UK and elsewhere ( Maguire at al., 2015 ; Public Health, 2018 ). In the UK and US, takeaways also cluster disproportionately around schools ( Smith et al, 2013 ; Trapp et al, 2023 ), which may be implicated in the development of childhood obesity in these contexts.…”

The built environment and child obesity: A review of Australian policies

“…Such information could guide the development of new or review of existing built environment‐related policies to better support children's physical activity and healthy eating. For example, policies that prevent the location of fast‐food outlets near schools have potential to be key policy strategies for preventing child obesity 37–40 …”

“…For example, policies that prevent the location of fast-food outlets near schools have potential to be key policy strategies for preventing child obesity. [37][38][39][40] Little research has explored if and how built environment-related government policies target obesity prevention in children. In particular, it is unclear in the Australian setting, to what extent features of the built environment known to influence child obesity are considered in government policies.…”

“…For example, policies that prevent the location of fast‐food outlets near schools have potential to be key policy strategies for preventing child obesity. 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 …”