If McDonalds fails to listen to community concerns about building opposite a pre-school and primary school they could be responsible for the children of that school having shorter lives.
So says the prominent NSW paediatrician leading the public battle against junk food being peddled to children. Dr. David MacDonald, who came to Tecoma last week to speak with members of the No MacDonalds in the Dandenong Ranges Coalition and local GP Dr Dennis Gration, was scathing in his attack on the decision to allow McDonald’s to build in such close proximity to vulnerable children.
Dr. MacDonald is a Senior Staff Specialist Paediatrician at Port Macquarie Base Hospital in NSW and is a Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics at the University of NSW. He was a member of a recent campaign that was successful in stopping a McDonald’s outlet being built next to a school complex in that city. “There is impressive epidemiological evidence that close proximity of fast food restaurants to schools may increase the obesity rate in children attending the schools” he stated.
According to a 2011 Victorian Government study 8% of children aged 5-17 years were classified as obese in the August 2007 to June 2008 period, with a further 17% classified as being overweight. This is of concern as about 80% of obese adolescents become obese adults. Another study demonstrated that those who are either overweight or obese are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, increased blood pressure and type 2 Diabetes.
Dr. MacDonald also pointed to a recent landmark American study of over 500, 000 children linking the issue of obesity to children who attended school which was within 500 metres of a fast food outlet.
Dr. MacDonald slammed the motives of a fellow doctor, Dr. Joel Freeman, who was responsible for selling the land to McDonald’s. Dr. McDonald said it should be part of the role as a paediatrician to tackle the rising obesity rates.
“I think that with the nature of our profession, we should be very cautious in our association with fast food outlets. The obesity epidemic has parallels with the tobacco epidemic. I do not believe I should stand by and watch a development which I consider may be harmful to children without a vigorous attempt to defend the health of those children. It feels like a very unequal battle – a handful of locals versus one of the world’s largest corporate giants”
He called on planners to assist the pressure on parents “It is not about parents (having to take responsibility by) saying no to their children but more about urban design”. Laws banning advertising of cigarettes and plain packaging have come too late for many therefore health promoting councils and urban planners have an urgent responsibility to ensure that places such as McDonalds are not built anywhere close to schools.
Unlike Woolworths, McDonalds do not appear to be listening to the communities concerns about the health and welfare of our children. Woolworths recently delisted a potentially harmful product after protests from their customers. McDonalds are risking a backlash in Australia if not worldwide if they fail to listen to the concerns of the people in the Dandenong Ranges.
“We’ve listened to our concerned customers and made the decision to delist the Bebi® organic White Grape fruit drink and Bebi® organic Apple and Banana fruit drink from our range and it will come off our shelves over coming weeks.”
Coverage in Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local
The following story Doctors unite in a bid to stop McDonalds building opposite Tecoma school on Dr McDonald’s opposition to the McDonalds in Tecoma and his meeting with local GP Dr Dennis Gration was included in the email newsletter sent out by the Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local (EMML) network to all GP’s in the Eastern Melbourne Region. It is also hosted on their website.
Photo of Dr MacDonald and local GP Dr Dennis Gration
