Research says children 'drowning' in fast food outlets

The research also examined the prevalence of fast food outlets in the borough and found that 97% of households lie within a ten-minute walk from a convenience food seller and that in some areas there are more fast food outlets than shops. The new study, conducted by head of the Centre for Food Policy at City University London Dr Martin Caraher with Sue Lloyd and Tim Madelin, is based on feedback from pupils in Tower Hamlets, area surveys and observations of the use of fast food outlets and food sampling. Key findings include: • High levels of after-school activity in fast food outlets with some students reporting skipping lunch and waiting for the end of the school day to eat there; • Many students shop on the way to school, eat on the 'move' on the way to school, or find ways of bringing in food at lunchtime e.g. from those with permission to go off school grounds; • Students expressed the opinion that the price of school food was 'bad-value' compared to what was available on the high-street; • Students were aware that the food on offer in the school canteen was healthy; • Schools with a closed gate policy largely avoided the migration of students to the high street to buy fast food at lunchtime; • On average there are 36 fast food outlets per secondary school in Tower Hamlets, compared to a national average of 23; • Many of the borough's shops do not sell a range of fresh fruit and vegetables necessary for a healthy diet; • Use of fast food outlets in the evenings is dominated by young men. Dr Caraher explained more: "We were shocked by the lengths students will go to to avoid healthy food in schools and by the extent to which they are surrounded by a culture of fast food outside the gates. What message are young people getting when there are more fast food outlets in their area than shops?" "To change this fast food culture we need to change both attitudes and the physical environment – the government needs to introduce planning guidance for the location of fast food outlets and we must ensure that parents and children know the impact that eating from takeaways can have on their health." The report also calls for the establishment of healthy eating schemes, partnership working with fast food outlets to improve food labelling and to introduce healthy eating options, and rebalancing of food marketing and promotion to reduce children's exposure to unhealthy options. Kay Eilbert, senior public health strategist at Tower Hamlets PCT, says: "This research has provided valuable evidence for public health to take forward a series of interventions to address the issues around unhealthy food provision across the borough. We plan to pilot schemes to support local food outlets to provide healthier options through an award scheme and business advice to stimulate change."