Childhood obesity is a growing problem that poses substantial health risks. Ethnic/racial minorities in low income urban areas disproportionately feel the impact of this problem. The built environment is particularly dense in low income urban areas and impacts a large number of people in a relatively limited space. Fast food and fast food advertising are aspects of the built environment that influence children’s eating habits and can contribute to childhood obesity.
Local Communities can use this kit as a tool to help limit the availability and impact of fast food and fast food advertising in order to combat childhood obesity in their neighborhood. Since childhood obesity is a population wide problem affecting many individuals over an extended area, solutions based on the individual are not well suited to address this problem. A large scale solution addressing childhood obesity as a population problem, will have more success.
It was created by the Public Health Advocacy Institute and students from Northeastern University School of Law as part of its Legal Skills in Social Context program.
Download The Zoning Diet here.