Editorial: The Fight against Obesity
The municipal ordinance banning fast food shows its limitations
Obesity is an epidemic among the Latino community. Crédito: Archivo / Aurelia Ventura
In 2008, the city of Los Angeles approved an ordinance to ban fast-food restaurants from the southern part of the city as a way to reduce obesity, which affects especially African-American and Latino children.
The first evaluation of the measure’s results are not good. An analysis made by RAND Corporation showed that obesity increased 1% (from 57% to 58%) throughout the city between 2007 and 2012, but it increased even more — from 63% to 75% — in the area where the ban was in effect.
Baldwin Hills, Leimert Park and parts of South and Southeast Los Angeles have the worst obesity rates in the city. That is why their Councilmember Bernard C. Parks imposed the prohibition as a public health measure.
According to the RAND analysis, the ordinance limited the amount of fast-food restaurants that stood by themselves in a street corner. However, 17 new businesses of this type were authorized to open inside malls, which is still allowed even though it undermines the law’s intention.
Most businesses in the area are also food stores or small restaurants that do not fall under the banned category, even if they are the most popular and carry high-calorie items.
Obesity is an epidemic among the Latino community. It is well-known that it leads to diabetes and heart problems, as well as several other ailments which can severely affect an individual’s quality of life.
It also signifies a high economic — and human — expense for society in the form of healthcare costs and lack of productivity.
Measures such as the one started by Parks are being considered in several cities as a way to combat poor nutrition. The best part of the RAND analysis was the ban on soft drinks in Los Angeles.
A better-drafted ordinance would have had a broader impact, even though it is difficult to reduce obesity through municipal regulations.
A collective effort to promote nutrition and exercise among youths in schools is necessary, as well as a personal effort at home to improve eating habits. Obesity is a complex problem that must be combated from multiple fronts
