Radio Nederland Wereldomroep

by Nick Garlick

12-08-2008

Fast foodThe Netherlands Nutrition Centre wants the brakes put on the growth of snack bars and fast food restaurants. In neighbourhoods with an abundance of such outlets, it wants local authorities to prevent any more being opened. In areas around schools, its demands are even stricter: it wants a complete ban on any business selling fast food.

The centre points to the city of Los Angeles in the United States. Worried about an epidemic of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, Los Angeles officials have forbidden entrepreneurs from opening up fast food restaurants in the south of the city.

Obesity
A recent Los Angeles Times survey found that South Los Angeles had one of the highest concentrations of fast-food outlets in the city and far fewer grocery shops. Some 30 percent of adults and 39 percent of children in the area are obese, compared with just over 20 percent of adults and 23 percent of children in the county overall.

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre is worried that unless action is taken, Dutch youngsters may end up following them down the same path. Dutch hospitals are already treating thousands of children for obesity, and this is only a fraction of the almost 600,000 children thought to be obese. There have even been reports of morbid obesity in two and three-year-olds.

"Food apartheid"
At first glance, it would appear to be a simple decision: cut out fast food, protect the health of our children. Yet the South Los Angeles decision hasn't been universally welcomed. There have been furious complaints from the business community and many people have objected to its imposition on predominantly poor people, calling the move "food apartheid".

To add to the confusion, new medical research is suggesting it may be possible to be fat but healthy. Two New York researchers writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine report that a large number of overweight and obese US adults are metabolically healthy, with normal blood pressure and cholesterol. They add that almost 25 percent of normal weight adults in one study showed risk factors for heart disease or diabetes and suggest it may not be diet that harms us but where the fat in our body ends up.

Perhaps Dutch children will get to eat cheeseburgers and chips for a little while longer yet.

 

Tags: blood pressure, childhood obesity, cholestorol, diabetes, fast food, Los Angeles, Netherlands Nutrition Centre, obesity

Reaction(s):


Dick Udell, 12-08-2008 - USA

There is no doubt about it. Over indulgence in fast food contributes to obesity! However, in truly democratic societies, it is the individual’s responsibility to show moderation and restraint and to make the right decisions. Education with emphasis on these responsibilities is the answer, NOT government mandates. There is an ever-increasing tendency for 'so called' democratic governments throughout the world towards dictating every aspect of our individual lives. This can only lead to totalitarian, fascist states! Instead of passing an ever-increasing number of draconian laws, lets educate our citizens to be more aware of the risks they are taking in their lives and make more appropriate decisions!

bill edwards, 12-08-2008 - usa

Marketers covering a broad spectrum of consumer products, from food to OTC drugs, exercise equipment to clothing and more, are going to jump all over this news. Already, domains (web addresses) like www.FatAndHealthy.com and www.FatAndFit.com are getting offers from marketers eager to sell to suddenly "OK" heavyweights.

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