The Cancer Council has expressed concerns about obesity rates with the announcement of a proposal for KFC in Northam.
Cancer Council WA’s regional education officer Melissa Pickering said the proposal is timely with World Obesity Day on October 11 highlighting calls from both health professionals and local communities for industry to take greater responsibility for the obesity epidemic.
While some people think obesity is just a matter of laziness or lack of self-control, the obesity challenge cannot be tackled by blaming individuals and calling only for greater personal responsibility,” she said.
“Obesity is not just a lifestyle choice or a lack of will-power.
“It’s safe to say that the two-thirds of the adult population who are overweight or obese would not choose to be that way if it was that simple.
“Environmental factors influence weight as well as individual behaviour.
“We live in a complex obesogenic environment where high energy products are readily available, and our work-focused lifestyles increasingly demand inactivity throughout the day.
“Combined, this leads to weight gain.”
The application is to use Lot 91 East Street Northam, the corner of Peel Terrance and East Street.
The design includes a 64-seat dining area and drive-thru.
Ms Pickering said the best solution to a growing obesity problem is an evidence-based combined approach that empowers people to make healthy choices.
“While it’s important for individuals to make healthier choices we know the environment we live in including junk food availability greatly impacts our ability to make those choices,” she said.
“So it’s vital that industry starts taking responsibility for this if any real change is to occur.
“We know that our environment has an enormous impact on our health and more junk food and junk drink outlets in our community is not going to help people living with overweight and obesity in our community.”
