A shocking new analysis reveals a significant disparity in the density of fast food outlets between the most deprived areas and wealthier regions in England. In some of the most impoverished areas, the number of fast food establishments is as high as 10 times more compared to affluent areas.
An example of this imbalance is observed in Camden, a London borough characterized by a high poverty rate. In this area, there are 417 fast food providers per 100,000 residents, surpassing the national average by more than double and making it the area with the highest concentration of junk food outlets in the entire country.
Meanwhile Wokingham in Berkshire, considered one of the most affluent parts of England, has just 39 fast food outlets per 100,000 residents.
The comprehensive analysis, based on Government data, indicates that across England, there were 116 fast food outlets per 100,000 population in the previous year. These establishments predominantly include burger joints and fried chicken shops, contributing to the prevalence of unhealthy eating options in various regions.
This is an 18 per cent rise since 2017.
The analysis also shows London and poorer areas of the North had some of the highest numbers of junk food shops, per 100,000 people.
Almost every local authority area in England saw the number of fast food shops grow or remain stable over the past few years — an outcome health organisations described as ‘infuriating’.
It comes as separate data show children as young as 10 are now need hip replacements due to weight problems, with up to a third of children now overweight or obese.
Data from last year shows Camden in north London took the top spot in the country for the highest density of junk food providers with 417 per 100,000 people
Other areas with high fast food density included London borough Westminster, which came second with 248 outlets per 100,000 people, followed by Blackpool (226), Southwark in London (205) and Manchester (183).
Commenting on the findings, Dr Jordan Beaumont, lecturer in food and nutrition at Sheffield Hallam University, said: ‘We know that exposure to fast food outlets increases the likelihood of consuming fast foods – those most exposed to fast food outlets are around 50 per cent more likely to consume fast foods – but the relationship is complex.
‘What is of particularly concern is the prevalence and density of fast food outlets is closely linked with level of deprivation, where areas experiencing higher levels of poverty – such as Camden and Bury – often have a higher number of fast food outlets.’
Dr Beaumont said attempts to limit exposure to fast foods, such as through school exclusion zones, were having a positive impact on health of local communities.
But he added there were added complexities due to outlets operating through the ‘virtual food environment’, such as through third-party online food delivery apps like Deliveroo where items can be provided outside a local area.
Katharine Jenner, director of Obesity Health Alliance, said big fast food companies were ‘eroding healthy eating opportunities’.
She said: ‘The findings are infuriating – almost every local authority has seen the number of unhealthy food outlets per population either grow or remain largely unchanged in recent years.
‘This is happening at a time when the food industry should be making healthy food more appealing and affordable, not actively working against it.
‘We deserve better, and we can’t let the food industry continue to profit off our poor health. We can’t afford to wait any longer.’
Becky Elliott, head of policy at the British Heart Foundation, added: ‘We know that the easy availability of fast food on people’s doorsteps is damaging to heart health.’
‘So it is disappointing to learn that the number of takeaway outlets in most communities has either grown or is showing no sign of decreasing.’
The distribution of fast food outlets closely mirrors that of separate NHS data tracking childhood obesity levels by local area.
For example, over 40 per cent of Year 6 children in Manchester and Blackpool were overweight or obese, some of the highest levels in the country, and both areas also having high levels of fast food outlets per 100,000 people.
It comes as separate figures show children as young as ten have had hip replacements on the NHS because they are so overweight.
At least nine youngsters aged between ten and 14 needed the operation as a result of their weight problems in the last five years, The Sun reported.
More broadly the data show obesity related knee replacements surged by 46 per cent across all age groups in just two years, while weight-linked hip replacements rose by 22 per cent to 25,600.
By specific health condition heart failure was the costliest per patient, tallying at just over £3,650 and £4,320 between different weight classes. This was followed by kidney disease, costing between £2,900 and almost £4,200, and cardiovascular disease, coming in at nearly £2,700 at just shy of £3,500
Hospital admissions for obese Brits accounted for the biggest overall spend, followed by prescriptions for medications to help them manage the consequences of excess weight at an average of nearly £340 per year for the most obese patients. This was followed by primary care services like GP appointments which could cost an average of £287 per year per patient
Much of the increase is thought to be caused by young adults and middle-aged people having surgery much sooner than in the past due to the extra strain their weight is placing on their joints.
The latest NHS data, for 2023/24, shows 22 per cent of four-to-five-year-olds are overweight or obese, with this rising to 36 per cent among 10-to-11-year-olds.
Data for adults show 64 per cent are overweight or obese, compared to just 53 per cent in the early 90s.
Experts say that although fast food isn’t always unhealthy, it often contains large quantities of salt, calories and saturated fat.
Eating too much fat or salt can damage the heart and blood vessels and makes people more likely to become obese.
Obesity raises the risk of a number of deadly health conditions like cancer, stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
An analysis last year found average patient costs the NHS at least £1,000 in healthcare costs per year.
It came off another study, published at the end of 2023 which found Britain’s ballooning obesity crisis was now costing the nation nearly £100billion per year.
Local authorities have responsibility for neighbourhood planning and licensing of food premises, as well as for public health for their resident population.
A Camden Council spokesperson said: ‘Camden is a world-famous tourist hotspot and we know many visitors will grab food on the go either before or after gigs, theatre and night time events, or before they get their train home after a day out in London.
‘We support our residents to access healthy food and to follow a balanced diet, and there’s lots of community food projects and food growing initiatives in Camden helping with this.’
Experts have blamed the nation’s ever-expanding waistline on the simultaneous rise of calorie-laden junk and ultra-processed food, and modern, sedentary lifestyles.
