Deprived areas have seen the largest rise in takeaway food outlets over the past 20 years, potentially worsening inequality – a study suggests.
Pressure was today raised on local authorities to limit the number and location of fast food shops in poorer locations amid concerns that ‘unhealthy neighbourhoods’ were making it harder for communities to make beneficial life choices.
Researchers from Cambridge University found the number of takeaway outlets in Norfolk rose by 45% in the 18 years to 2008.
The study published in the journal Health & Place found the highest increase in the density of outlets were in sites of highest deprivation, which climbed from 4.6 to 6.5 outlets per 10,000 residents over the same period.
Dr Pablo Monsivais from the university’s Centre for Diet and Activity Research said: ‘The growing concentration of takeaway outlets in poorer areas might be reinforcing inequalities in diet and obesity, with unhealthy neighbourhoods making it more difficult to make healthy food choices.
‘Our findings suggest that it might be time for local authorities to think hard about restrictions on the number and location of outlets in a given area, particularly deprived areas.’
A spokesperson for the National Obesity Forum said councils were now ‘desperate’ to limit junk food sales, but ‘like rabbits caught in the headlights, are petrified to do so in the face of face of legal challenges and red tape’.
The Local Government Association has called for the first Queen’s Speech of the new parliament to include legislation that would hand town halls greater power over local licensing.
