The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) welcomes the commitment in the National Planning Policy Framework to refuse new hot food takeaways within reasonable walking distance of schools and other places where children and young people congregate.
In response to the consultation on the framework, the RCP highlighted that hot food takeaways within easy walking distance of schools can provide an attractive and affordable food option for pupils. Research has shown associations between exposure to takeaway outlets, takeaway consumption and body weight in adults. Evidence from England shows that more deprived areas, which also have higher child and adult obesity rates, have the highest concentration of fast-food outlets, with some of the most deprived areas having almost five times as many outlets as more affluent areas.
In the framework, reasonable walking distance is defined as 400 metres or 5 minutes’ walk time from schools. While this is a positive step, it is important that we tackle our obesogenic food environments, and we are concerned that this distance may be too short.
The RCP also welcomes the commitment to improve access to good quality green spaces meaning more people will be able to reach a green space within a short walk of their home, whether through on-site provision or through access to off-site spaces.
The college has previously recommended that the government create equitable access to green space across England by ensuring everyone has a local park within a 10-minute walk of their home. Access to green space promotes physical activity, benefiting both physical and mental health, and supports efforts to prevent ill health and reduce disease.
We continue to urge the government to take wider action to tackle obesity and we support the Obesity Health Alliance’s recommendations on planning. This includes developing a best practice pathway for local authorities to help existing businesses transition to healthier practices and increase the availability of healthier options.
Consultant in diabetes and endocrinology and RCP fellow Dr Lorraine Albon said:
'The country’s food system is broken. Unhealthy choices are often easier, cheaper and more convenient than healthier ones. The UK’s high obesity rates are largely a result of this broken system which is heavily influenced by commercial industries that profit from selling health-harming products.
'We welcome this step towards restricting what we know is a driver of childhood obesity and would encourage the government to extend its definition of reasonable walking distance beyond the proposed 5 minutes. People’s immediate environments, including their homes, workplaces and places of education should be designed to support good health and well-being.'