ALL FAST-FOOD JOINTS BAN
A wild and controversial plan was announced this week. London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced his plan to ban all fast-food joints near London schools. The banning will have an interesting impact on student choices, health and their future. And the ban also sets a precedent for other cities to tackle public health problems and solutions. Let’s talk about childhood obesity.
SAY GOODBYE TO GREASY FOODS AND SLURPIES
Schools located in cities are close to fast-food joints. Students who have permission to go out at lunch usually spend their money on greasy foods and large, sugar drinks. Ice cream truck drivers are normally working the lunch time route and park their vehicles near schools. This way, they are readily visible to students. The consuming students usually arrive back at school for the afternoon, wired on sugar and sometimes hiding their stash. Consequently, their teachers have to deal with the sugar crash. It always hits everyone hard.
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NO FAST-FOOD STARTING FALL OF 2019
The plan will take effect in fall of 2019. The new program will ban all new quicky restaurants from setting up shop within a quarter-mile of primary and secondary schools. The policy also encompasses all fast-food joints, requiring they follow a minimum of nutrition standards.
1 IN 5 SUFFER FROM CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Childhood obesity has never been more critical. In the United States and the United Kingdom alone, there are about one in five school age children who are obese. According to the CDC, “in the long term, childhood obesity also is associated with having obesity as an adult, which is linked to serious conditions and diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and several types of cancer.” This ban will have an effect on future policy in other Countries.
BANNED FAST-FOOD WEEK
Schools have banned books since the 1800s. This has removed stories about different societies and life experiences which can sideline children. Will the banning of fast-food joints have a similar impact? Will there be a “banned fast-food joint week” celebrated by London-based schools? Or will the ban simply have a positive impact on childhood health? Only time will tell and give us the skinny.
