Exploring the relationship between the density of fast food outlets and place

Most of us are eating or drinking more than we need to and are not active enough and as a direct consequence, levels of being overweight or obese are increasing. It is suggested that there is a connection between the food environment and health inequalities with an association between the concentration of fast food outlets and levels of obesity. Dietary behaviours are also potentially shaped by the food environment with fast food outlets attracting particular interest for public health action and policy to modify. This short talk will highlight a local profile of fast food takeaways showing changes over time and the association with deprivation and obesity levels and how the transition of health improvement functions back to local government provides opportunity and challenges to address this public health concern.