Childhood obesity crackdown: council targets fast-food outlets near schools and calls for 'more responsibility' from online food delivery apps

The council has also noted that the rise of online food delivery apps and children's easy access to them, can make it even more challenging to tackle the obesity crisis.

• Southend has a total of 219 fast-food outlets, above the national average per population and these are concentrated among the most deprived areas of the city
• latest figures (2023/24) show that 22.7 percent of four- to five-year-olds in Southend were overweight or obese before even starting school. This rises to 33.8 percent by Year 6 (ages 10 to 11), with rates notably higher among low-income families
• the council has confirmed that they will be asking for residents' views on the Local Plan over the coming weeks. This could seek to extend their planning powers to limit the prevalence of fast-food outlets near to schools. The Local Plan will also include a draft strategic policy on health and wellbeing and set out how planning can assist in reducing inequalities
• the council also agreed at last night's Cabinet (21 July, item 4) a wide-ranging childhood obesity strategy, aimed at encouraging and improving diet and nutrition, increasing physical activity, and taking further steps to reshape some of the unhealthier food environment

In his latest Annual Public Health Report, Krishna Ramkhelawon, Southend's Director of Public Health, said: “Post-pandemic, the struggle to address childhood obesity has shown no sign of easing.”

Cllr Maxine Sadza, Cabinet Member for Social Care and Healthier Communities, said: “Childhood obesity is one of the biggest public health issues facing Southend, and the UK. We are looking at a whole range of preventative measures to tackle this, from healthy eating and menus in primary schools, to increased physical activity through our leisure centres, as well as targeted support for the most vulnerable communities, such as weight management in our family centres.

“We know how challenging it can be to provide healthy meals at home for low-income families and that there is a higher proportion of fast-food outlets within these communities. The rise of online food delivery apps can make it even more challenging to make healthier choices after a tough day of work or looking after families.

“But what we are asking is for more responsibility from the local delivery firms, as well as those household names, like Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat, to ensure that children are not targeted by their marketing and that healthier choices are promoted, wherever possible."

Cllr Anne Jones, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing, added: “The evidence suggests that behaviour change alone will have very little impact on this growing public health challenge. We know that we also need a call to action from policy-makers, both nationally and locally, partners and our school communities to join forces to help deliver more impactful change to improve outcomes.

“This may mean that we also need to look hard at our own planning powers to limit the prevalence of fast-food outlets near to schools. With the rise of online food delivery apps, we know that it's not just the physical location of these outlets, but we need to look at how planning can assist in reducing health inequalities.”