MADISON, WI - Would a ban on fast food restaurants in certain areas help combat obesity? In Wisconsin, some public health officials believe the answer is yes.
"Wisconsin's new 10-year public health plan, released Wednesday, suggests that municipalities use zoning regulations to limit the number and density of fast-food restaurants, particularly in low-income neighborhoods," writes The Cap Times.
The news source adds that the plan would help reduce obesity rates in Wisconsin.
"Preventing obesity is more than just telling people to eat better and be active. We have to create environments where people have healthy choices available to them," Amy Meinen, a nutrition coordinator with the state Department of Health Services, told the news source.
The state??s 10-year "Healthiest Wisconsin 2020" plan ?" not a mandate ?" also "seeks to increase access to good, nutritious and affordable foods," writes the news source, adding that the report also suggests adding more grocery stores in "underserved neighborhoods" and allowing more farmers?? markets to accept food stamps.
"I'd like to see the research," said Mark Clear, president of the Madison City Council, of the state plan. "Obesity is one of those problems, like alcohol, we have to get serious about. But with alcohol, you can draw a direct correlation. Alcohol is the main cause of alcohol abuse. But if I stop eating fast food, there's no guarantee that I won't still be 20 pounds overweight," he told the news source.
Meanwhile, Pete Hanson of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association said that his group would oppose the plan. "It would be an ill-advised public health policy. I say that because 70 percent of meals consumed by Americans are still prepared at home. So is banning fast food restaurants really the thing that will stem obesity in America? Probably not," he commented to the news source.
Hanson also noted that fast-food restaurants don??t force their customers "to eat Big Macs" and do offer healthier choices such as salads and grilled chicken.
"You don't have to have fries with your hamburger at a fast food restaurant," he added. "You can have a fruit cup. You can order salads. You can have a grilled chicken sandwich instead of fried chicken. There are plenty of healthy choices, but customers have to choose them."