something that they should be very proud of.

First Waltham Forest, then New York City! America’s most famous city is following the lead of a humble local council in East London by trying to enact rules and regulations which will make sure that fast-food restaurants are not permitted to be placed near schools.

Mr. Eric Gioia who sits on New York City's council has recently drafted legislation which he hopes will be taken up by his fellow councilmen. The idea will be that fast food restaurants will be banned from being placed within 500 feet of any school in New York City. Mr. Gioia cited a new study which was published by Columbia University and the University of California which showed that children who studied within easy reach of fast food restaurants had a statistically significant greater chance of becoming overweight or obese. He went on to explain that fast-food restaurants were having a “terrible impact” on the health of children and legislation which he was suggesting could help all children who study in New York City.

Mr Gioia said that along with banning of fast food restaurants it was important that schools educated children in healthy eating. He explained that it was so difficult for children to avoid these restaurants when they left school and something had to be done about it.

New York takes its health extremely seriously and has been responsible for many healthy initiatives regarding diet and quitting smoking. Normally New York City leads the way such as when they banned trans fat in all restaurants in the city, however this time Waltham Forest Council can take the credit for being the first to ban fast food restaurants near schools and it is something that they should be very proud of.

Parents should lobby the schools that their children attend to prevent fast food restaurants from opening up near them. Not only will their children save money but they will not succumb to dangerous eating habits which could lead them to a life of obesity.