Poster Presentation ESA-SRB-ANZOS 2025 in conjunction with ENSA

A Qualitative Study of Community Perspectives on the Development of a Fast-Food Restaurant in the Neighbourhood    (128453)

Roslyn C Giglia 1 , Jacinta Francis 1 2 3 , Jana Buckle 1 , Clare Whitton 1 , Ros Sambell 1 , Frith Klug 1 , Lukar Thornton 4 , Siobhan Hickling 3 , Katherine Kent 5 , Gina Trapp 1 3
  1. Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
  2. The Kids, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
  3. School of Population and Global Health , University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
  4. Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
  5. School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Science , University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia

Food environments research is evolving, demonstrating a relationship between fast-food outlets (FFO), poor dietary intake[1] and increasing obesity rates in adults[2] and children[3]. Despite this growing area of investigation, there has been limited study into the experiences of residents living in close proximity to FFOs.

The aim of this study was to categorise the community consultation submissions provided to a local council regarding a McDonald’s FFO prior to development, and to qualitatively document the experiences and perceptions of nearby community residents upon completion.

Of the 183 submissions to council between 23 December 2021 and 14 January 2022, 168 were objections to the FFO development and were categorised as close as possible, into overarching themes identified in the resident interviews. In-depth interviews were completed with 11 residents between November 2023 and May 2024, who lived within 300m of the FFO. Thematic analysis identified “perception of the council”, “impact on the community” and potential “strategies to foster healthy food environments” as overarching themes. Concern regarding the density of FFO in the surrounding area, impact on health and neighbourhood pollution (light, litter, noise, odour) and antisocial behaviour were predominant in both the community consultation submissions and the interviews.

Results from this study highlight that residents’ concerns presented to council prior to the FFO development had become a reality, negatively influencing their perceived quality of life and ongoing community well-being. Despite strong opposition from residents during the consultation period, rejection of planning applications by local councils is impracticable given the current state planning laws that govern planning in Western Australia (WA). Considering the well-being of residents by legislating zoning that limits fast food outlets opening in close proximity to neighbourhoods, schools and playgrounds may positively influence upstream social determinant of urban design and food environments to curb the rise in obesity.

 

  1. [1.] Shaw, S., et al., Influences of the community and consumer nutrition environment on the food purchases and dietary behaviors of adolescents: A systematic review. Obes Rev, 2023. 24(7): p. e13569. [2.] Pineda, E., et al., Food environment and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Nutr Prev Health, 2024. 7(1): p. 204-211. [3.] Smagge, B.A., L.A. van der Velde, and J.C. Kiefte-de Jong, The Food Environment Around Primary Schools in a Diverse Urban Area in the Netherlands: Linking Fast-Food Density and Proximity to Neighbourhood Disadvantage and Childhood Overweight Prevalence. Front Public Health, 2022. 10: p. 838355.