The hot-food takeaway landscape in Barnet and its impact on local policy response
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Authors
Olivia Cowie
Luccia Iannucci-Rodriguez
Alexis Karamanos
Contact
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Issue Date
06-May-26
Type
Conference Abstract
Language
Keywords
Neighbourhood health & place-based working
Alternative Title
Abstract
Regular consumption of meals from hot-food takeaways, which are generally energy-dense and nutrient-poor, negatively impacts health and increases the risk of obesity. Our aim was to analyse the hot-food takeaway landscape in Barnet to better understand how it intersects with the local environment and assess how local authority policy response can help mitigate the health impacts on the population.
This research uses QGIS spatial analysis to examine takeaway hotspot locations in relation to nearby schools and areas of deprivation, identifying existing inequalities and assessing how local policy may be shaping these. Alongside this population-level approach, we conducted mixed-effect linear regression modelling in R using individual-level National Childhood Measurement Programme data to evaluate the impact of hot-food takeaway proximity to schools on pupil BMI.
The analysis conducted has identified key characteristics in the distribution of hot-food takeaways across Barnet, offering insights to support future policy decisions. Our research has shown that hot-food takeaways in Barnet are unevenly distributed, with ward-level density ranging from 6.6 to 23.9 per 100,000 population. Hotspot locations are correlated with major road networks and public transport links, highlighting accessibility as a key factor behind takeaway location. Takeaway locations are linked to deprivation, with higher concentrations in more deprived areas. This pattern indicates that hot-food takeaways may be contributing to the obesity-related inequality observed across Barnet, particularly among children. Many hot-food takeaway hotspots are located near schools. Mixed-effect linear regression analysis of 3,620 Year 6 pupils from 87 schools showed that having a hot-food takeaway within 400m of a school led to a 0.28 unit increase in pupil BMI when controlling for socio-demographic characteristics (p < 0.05), and that this association appears to be more pronounced in pupils living in more deprived areas. Whilst new 2025 council policy prevents new takeaways from opening within a 400m radius of a school, this doesn't impact already open businesses, and over half of all schools in Barnet currently have a takeaway within 400m of their location.
Altogether, this research can raise awareness of takeaway-related health impacts among stakeholders and highlight the importance of further strengthening our local food environment policies.