Introduction:
The
This analysis will attempt to answer a basic question. I will analyze whether middle and high schools are especially susceptible to a “clustering” of fast food establishments. Are fast food joints generally within walking distance of schools?
There are numerous limitations in this project. For instance, it is difficult and unnecessary to geocode and include every single fast food chain location. I have chosen a sample of six fast food chains that I feel offer an exceptional sample size and distribution for the
Method:
As evidence of this problematic trend, I have conducted and provided GIS evidence below. School data was gathered from UCLA’s GIS data repository. The original geocoded school data was from the Geographic Names Information System (GINIS), the Federal Government’s repository of location information. I then chose to record the addresses of six of the largest fast food chains in the nation. I recorded addresses for 10 Arbys restaurants, 54 Burger King restaurants, 27 Carls Junior restaurants, 169 Jack in the Box restaurants, 103 KFC restaurants, and 259 McDonalds restaurants. I found all of these exact addresses on the websites of the respective fast food chains, and then created an address locator based on a
The school data was carefully analyzed, and only middle and high schools were included in the final GIS. In the analysis, only schools including the key words “middle,” “junior high,” “intermediate,” “preparatory,” “academy,” and “high” school were placed on the map. All others were excluded. Most of the excluded schools were elementary, primary, and indistinguishable schools. In total, the final GIS includes 546 middle and high schools. I have chosen to focus purely on middle and high schools because it is these students that have the best access to transportation and money. Many middle and high school students walk home, whereas elementary age children are generally picked up by parents or caregivers after school. Also, many high school students work after-school jobs, leading to excess income that can easily be spent on fast food.
To conclude my analysis, I used a buffer analysis to discern which schools were located in close proximity to fast food restaurants. A one-half mile buffer was placed around all 546 middle and high schools. I also placed a one quarter mile buffer for more detailed analysis.
Results:
The below GIS analysis shows most of Los Angeles County, the 546 middle and high schools, along with the exact locations of the 622 fast food locations.
From my buffer analysis, there are 106 McDonalds restaurants contained within the one-half mile school buffer. Further, there are 48 KFC restaurants, 7 Arbys restaurants, 77 Jack in the Box restaurants, 29 Burger King restaurants, and 14 Carls Junior restaurants. In total, 281 of the 622 fast food restaurants are situated within a proximity of one-half mile of the 546 middle and high schools.
However, it is difficult to discern valuable information from a GIS of such an extensive area. I have created multiple insets of select regions of
From looking at this map, it is clear that fast food restaurants are not concentrated in this region. However, almost every food location is within easy walking distance of a school. Olympic High School has an Arbys and a Jack in the Box within the quarter mile buffer.
The trend in Van Nuys and the
On the whole, it appears as though fast food restaurants have chosen not to open chains in South Central. This is completely opposite the effect noticed in other regions of the county. Yet, the trend can still be recognized, especially near
Fast food restaurants are incredibly prevalent in this region of the county. Almost every middle and high school shown on this map is situated near a fast food restaurant. In many cases, multiple fast food chains reside within the half and quarter mile buffers I have established. This map demonstrates the many public health concerns involving the proximity of schools to fast food chains. Our final map of
This map of the Hollywood region appears very similar to the map of
Conclusion and Discussion:
It is important to note that I have only chosen 6 of the most popular fast food chains to analyze. While these provide an excellent sample size, there are dozens of other chains, each with locations near middle and high schools. After conducting the GIS buffer analysis, it becomes clear that fast food chains prefer to situate themselves near schools to feed hungry students after school. It makes complete economic sense for these corporations.
Over the past few decades, student-age children have consumed increasing amounts of unhealthy foods from fast food establishments. Approximately three out of every ten children consume fast food for at least one meal on a daily basis. Dietary lifestyles such as these are unhealthy, as most fast food is consistently associated with dangerous fat and caloric intake. Further, a fast food diet lacks fruits and vegetables, leading to decreased intakes of iron, fiber, and other vital vitamins. Children that rely on a fast food diet are far more susceptible to obesity and as a result, diabetes (especially type II diabetes). The best way to address this growing problem is to focus on the dietary environment that schoolchildren are exposed to on a daily basis. It is incredibly important that children receive a balanced diet, and daily fast food consumption fails to supply this requirement.
The
Sources:
www.jackinthebox.com
www.mcdonalds.com
www.arbys.com
www.burgerking.com
www.carlsjr.com
www.kfc.com
