Fast food outlets per 100,000 population - WMCA

Crude rate per 100,000 population: the number of fast food outlets is divided by the population of the area and multiplied by 100,000. ## Rationale The environment in which we live and work has positive and negative effects on our health and wellbeing. One component of the built-up environment is food outlets and the choices they provide. Meals eaten outside of the home tend to be associated with higher calories, and portion sizes tend to be bigger, which can make it more challenging to eat healthily [1,2]. The neighbourhood food environment is one important modifiable determinant of dietary behaviour and obesity [3]. The availability of fast food in our environment is one issue, within a complex system [4], which is associated with a range of negative health outcomes and contributes to the obesogenic nature of some of our neighbourhoods. Fast food is more abundantly available in the most deprived areas of England where obesity in children and adults and the associated health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease are most prevalent [5,6]. This indicator is designed to help users understand the number of fast food outlets in an area taking the size of the population into account. It is intended to support national policy making and influence planning activities in local authorities [7] with the aim of reducing the availability of fast food, where this is deemed desirable, in order to improve health outcomes. ### References 1. [Sugar reduction programme: industry progress 2015 to 2020 - GOV.UK] 2. [Calorie reduction programme: industry progress 2017 to 2021 - GOV.UK] 3. [Dietary inequalities: What is the evidence for the effect of the neighbourhood food environment?] 4. [A foresight whole systems obesity classification for the English UK biobank cohort] 5. [The Association between Fast Food Outlets and Overweight in Adolescents Is Confounded by Neighbourhood Deprivation] 6. [The association between the presence of fast-food outlets and BMI] 7. [No new fast-food outlets allowed! Evaluating the effect of planning policy on the local food environment in the North East of England] ## Definition of numerator The numerator is a count, at a specific point in time, of fast food outlets in each geographic area. The inclusion criteria for counting fast food outlets is described in the methodology section below. ## Definition of denominator Count of the population in each geographic area from Office for National Statistics (ONS) mid-year population estimates 2023. ## Caveats ## The Impact of Food Delivery Services In recent years there has been a large growth of food delivery services and meal delivery apps (MDAs). These companies allow customers to order food via mobile apps or websites for delivery to a chosen address. The availability of fast food through MDAs expands the geographic coverage of fast food outlets, increasing the likelihood that customers will order from outlets in neighbouring local authority areas, especially in urban settings. These apps extend the reach of fast food outlets beyond the immediate resident or visiting population. ### Cross Local Authority Movements Some individuals may travel to neighbouring local authorities to access fast food outlets. Therefore, data showing fast food outlets within a specific area may underestimate actual exposure for the resident population. Users should consider data from neighbouring areas to gain a more comprehensive understanding of fast food exposure. ### The Impact of Non-Resident Populations Movements for work, shopping, entertainment, or tourism also affect exposure. Local authorities with high numbers of fast food outlets per 100,000 residents may have large non-resident populations who are not included in the population denominator but are still exposed to these outlets. ### Data Source and Methods The data may not fully capture all fast food outlets. Many businesses are multi-functional—offering dine-in, takeaway, and delivery—and may be categorized as restaurants or cafés, thus excluded from fast food counts. Inclusion based on business names helps mitigate this, but some outlets may still be missed. Conversely, some outlets categorized as ‘Takeaway/sandwich shop’ may not be considered fast food. Data from the FSA FHRS is presumed accurate, but errors in collection, collation, and entry are possible. Categorization may vary between local authorities. For example, an outlet selling sandwiches and tea might be recorded as a Restaurant/Café/Canteen in one area and as a Takeaway/sandwich shop in another. Different data sources use varying definitions and categorizations, so numbers may differ across datasets. The data here counts businesses identified as fast food outlets, not direct access for individuals, which is influenced by factors like opening hours, pricing, parking, and delivery options. It reflects premises use rather than individual access.