Stuff: Call to restrict junk-food sale near schools

Rebecca Todd writes in The Press about calls by the Secondary Principal’s Association of New Zealand to restric what dairies near schools can sell during school hours.

Research from the University of Otago has shown that dairies are far more numerous in poorer areas, and areas which include schools.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“A new study by Canterbury University’s GeoHealth Laboratory showed fast-food outlets were 5 1/2 times more likely to be clustered around schools than other areas and three times more likely to be in poorer areas than rich.

“Researcher Peter Day said councils should have the power to consider the potential for fast-food outlets to increase obesity rates among children when zoning areas near schools.