Deprived areas have 5 TIMES more fast food outlets, official map reveals (so, is your area a junk food hotspot?)

  • More than a quarter – 26 per cent – of eateries in England are fast food outlets
  • Blackpool and the North East have the most fast food places per person
  • Rochford in Essex, and the South East have the fewest shops on average
  • Experts say councils need to do more to improve the diets of residents

Poorer areas of England have up to five times more fast food shops than better off places, an official map has revealed.

Figures from Public Health England show more than a quarter of all eateries in the country are fast food outlets.

And the food shops – which are often packed with heart damaging pizzas, kebabs and burgers – are more common in places where people are less well off.

Blackpool in the north west has by far the most fast food shops per person – with 232.2 per every 100,000 people – 33 per cent more than second-placed Camden, London, with 174.2 per 100,000, and more than double the national average of 96.5.

Meanwhile, Rochford in Essex has the fewest, with the equivalent of 25.7 shops per 100,000 people, followed by Wokingham in Berkshire, with 36.2. 

There are more fast food shops in typically poorer areas in the north, and fewer in the wealthier south – scroll down to the official table see how your area ranks.

A quarter of adults are obese in the UK, as are one in five 11-year-old children – and the increase in extremely fat people is being described as a health crisis.

Data released by Public Health England reveals more than a quarter of food establishments in England are fast food shops, and there are more in deprived areas

Data released by Public Health England reveals more than a quarter of food establishments in England are fast food shops, and there are more in deprived areas

In new data released by Public Health England (PHE), officials have added up how many fast food outlets there are in every council authority in the country. 

Numbers reveal the total numbers of junk food shops in 326 local areas, plus the ratio of the takeaways per 100,000 people.

The map also reveals the differences between regions, showing people in the South East have the least access to fast food – with an average of 74.6 shops per 100,000 people – while the North East has the most with 125.4. 

And PHE says there are five times more of the outlets in the country's most deprived communities.

The proportion of food places which sell fast food is higher in areas which are considered more deprived by the Government, according to the data.

In areas which score one on a ten-point scale of deprivation – meaning they are most deprived – 17 per cent of eateries are fast food shops, more than five times higher than in areas which score 10 – the least deprived – where it is just 3 per cent.

HOW MANY FAST FOOD SHOPS DOES EACH REGION HAVE? (PER 100,000 PEOPLE) 

  1. North East (125.4)
  2. North West (118)
  3. Yorkshire and Humber (114.2)
  4. London (92.7)
  5. East Midlands (89.8)
  6. West Midlands (88.4)
  7. East of England (83.3)
  8. South West (77.1)
  9. South East (74.6)

(Source: Public Health England) 

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The figures come days after the Government published the second chapter of its childhood obesity strategy, including proposals to introduce mandatory calorie labelling on menus and a 9pm watershed on junk food adverts. 

Obesity costs councils hundreds of millions of pounds a year 

People being obese is thought to cost local authority £352 million per year in social care.

Experts say that although fast food is not always unhealthy, it often contains a lot of salt, calories and saturated fat.

Eating too much fat or salt can damage the heart and blood vessels and makes people more likely to become obese.

Obesity raises the risk of a number of deadly health conditions like cancer, stroke, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. 

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England said: 'Local authorities have the power to help shape our environment and support people in making healthier choices. 

'They need to question whether these fast food hotspots are compatible with their work to help families and young children live healthier lives.

'It's not surprising some children find it difficult to resist the lure of fast food outlets when many neighbourhoods are saturated with them.' 

More than a quarter of food establishments are fast food 

Of the 207,617 eateries in England, 53,333 (26 per cent) are fast food outlets selling items including burgers, kebabs, chicken, chips and pizza, according to the data.

An PHE says the country's poorest communities are hotspots for such outlets – with more being clustered in the north, and fewer in the south and home counties.

Almost one third (32 per cent) are in the top 20  per cent of the most deprived local authority areas, the figures show.  

Leeds has the most fast food shops in a single authority, with 957, while the Isles of Scilly has the fewest with just two – Rochford has the fewest on the mainland, with 22. 

AREAS WITH THE MOST FAST FOOD SHOPS (PER 100,000 PEOPLE) 

  1. Blackpool, Lancashire (232.2)
  2. Camden, London (174.2)
  3. Burnley, Lancashire (168)
  4. East Lindsey, Lincolnshire (165.8)
  5. Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (165.7)
  6. Hartlepool, County Durham (160.5)
  7. Norwich, Norfolk (153)
  8. Scarborough, North Yorks. (151.6)
  9. Chesterfield, Derbyshire (151.2)
  10. Hull, East Yorkshire (150.7)

(Source: Public Health England) 

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AREAS WITH THE FEWEST FAST FOOD SHOPS (PER 100,000 PEOPLE) 

  1. Rochford, Essex (25.7)
  2. Wokingham, Berkshire (36.2)
  3. Corby, Northamptonshire (41)
  4. Sevenoaks, Kent (42)
  5. Mid Devon (42.6)
  6. Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire (42.9)
  7. South Cambridgeshire (44.2)
  8. Vale of White Horse (47.4)
  9. Fareham, Hampshire (47.5)
  10. Broadland, Norfolk (47.9) 

(Source: Public Health England) 

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Izzi Seccombe, chairwoman of the Local Government Association's community wellbeing board, called for new legislation to help councils address 'damaging food environments'.

Urgent action is needed to tackle childhood obesity 

She said: 'We urgently need to take action to tackle childhood obesity and councils are playing their part, but need more planning powers to help tackle this epidemic which has made the UK the most obese nation in western Europe.

'Councils appreciate that a flourishing hospitality sector in our towns and cities is good for local economies, and where they have introduced restrictions on takeaways are working with businesses to help create healthier menus for their customers.

'Numerous councils have set curbs on new fast food outlets but current legislation means they lack planning powers to tackle the clustering of existing takeaways already open.' 

At least 40 local authorities in England have policies to restrict the growth of new takeaways and fast food outlets, PHE said.

HOW DOES YOUR AREA FARE? ALL AREAS LISTED IN ORDER OF NUMBER OF FAST FOOD SHOPS PER 100,000 PEOPLE (Source: Public Health England) 
Region Local authority No. of fast food outlets Fast food shops per 100,000 people
North West Blackpool 325 232.2
London Camden 434 174.2
North West Burnley 147 168
East Midlands East Lindsey 230 165.8
East of England Great Yarmouth 164 165.7
North East Hartlepool 149 160.5
East of England Norwich 214 153
Yorkshire and Humber Scarborough 164 151.6
East Midlands Chesterfield 158 151.2
Yorkshire and Humber Kingston upon Hull 392 150.7
North West Hyndburn 121 150.5
North East Darlington 158 148.6
North West Blackburn with Darwen 219 147.5
Yorkshire and Humber Kirklees 624 143.4
North West Preston 202 143.2
North West Tameside 319 143
Yorkshire and Humber Bradford 757 142.1
North East Newcastle upon Tyne 408 138.9
North West Manchester 749 138.4
Yorkshire and Humber Wakefield 465 137.9
North East Sunderland 382 137.8
East Midlands Leicester 481 137.6
Yorkshire and Humber Calderdale 287 137.3
North East Gateshead 272 134.2
London Tower Hamlets 402 133.6
East Midlands Lincoln 130 133.5
North West Bolton 374 131.9
North West Rochdale 285 131.7
East Midlands Nottingham 427 131.5
North East Middlesbrough 184 131.1
East Midlands High Peak 120 130.8
North West Salford 324 130.6
North West Stockport 377 130.1
North West Liverpool 630 129.2
Yorkshire and Humber North East Lincolnshire 206 128.9
East of England Ipswich 178 128.5
South West Weymouth and Portland 84 128.3
North West Fylde 100 128
East of England Stevenage 111 127.2
North West Trafford 297 126.8
South East Portsmouth 269 126.1
North West Barrow-in-Furness 84 124.4
North West Oldham 289 124.4
West Midlands Stoke-on-Trent 312 123
Yorkshire and Humber Doncaster 377 122.7
Yorkshire and Humber Leeds 957 122.5
North West Rossendale 85 121.8
South East Reading 197 121.1
West Midlands Cannock Chase 119 120.8
South East Brighton and Hove 346 120.5
London Westminster 291 120.3
West Midlands East Staffordshire 140 119.7
North East County Durham 624 119.6
Yorkshire and Humber Barnsley 289 119.5
North West Pendle 108 119.3
Yorkshire and Humber Sheffield 685 119.3
West Midlands Sandwell 382 118.4
North East Redcar and Cleveland 160 118.1
North West Wyre 129 117.3
East Midlands Derby 299 116.7
South East Hastings 108 116.3
West Midlands Wolverhampton 300 116.3
South West Bournemouth 225 116.2
West Midlands Worcester 115 112.8
London Lambeth 364 112.7
South West Bristol 513 112.5
North East South Tyneside 167 111.9
North West Wigan 358 110.7
Yorkshire and Humber Rotherham 290 110.6
South East Thanet 155 110.1
East of England Southend-on-Sea 198 109.6
East of England Forest Heath 69 109
West Midlands Walsall 301 107.9
North West Lancaster 152 107.3
South East Shepway 119 107.2
London Islington 248 106.9
North West South Lakeland 111 106.9
East Midlands Mansfield 115 106.6
London Lewisham 318 106.4
South East Worthing 116 106.2
North West Chorley 121 105.9
North West St. Helens 189 105.9
North West South Ribble 116 105.3
East of England North Norfolk 109 105.2
East Midlands Erewash 121 105.1
East of England Cambridge 131 105.1
London Southwark 327 104.9
North West Wirral 338 104.9
West Midlands North Warwickshire 66 104.4
Yorkshire and Humber York 216 104.4
West Midlands Newcastle-under-Lyme 133 103.8
North West Sefton 285 103.7
West Midlands Coventry 364 103.1
London Croydon 394 102.8
South West Poole 154 102.2
North East Stockton-on-Tees 200 102.1
North West Ribble Valley 60 101.9
North East Northumberland 323 101.8
London Hackney 278 101.7
London Waltham Forest 278 101.4
South West Torbay 136 101.2
North West Allerdale 98 100.9
East of England Waveney 118 100.7
North East North Tyneside 204 100.2
London Brent 326 99.9
West Midlands Staffordshire Moorlands 98 99.8
East Midlands Ashfield 124 99.6
North West Copeland 69 99.6
North West Warrington 208 99.5
Yorkshire and Humber North Lincolnshire 170 99.5
East of England Watford 94 97.3
West Midlands Dudley 309 97.3
East Midlands Bolsover 76 97.2
London Havering 246 97.1
North West Carlisle 105 96.9
North West Eden 51 96.9
East Midlands Hinckley and Bosworth 106 96.5
Yorkshire and Humber Ryedale 52 96.5
East of England Tendring 138 96.3
South East Eastbourne 99 96.1
South East Isle of Wight 134 95.5
East of England Milton Keynes 254 95.4
South East Dartford 100 95.1
East of England Castle Point 85 94.7
South East Rushmoor 91 94.7
East Midlands Wellingborough 74 94.4
East of England Bedford 159 94.2
Yorkshire and Humber Craven 53 94.1
South East Southampton 235 93.9
London Merton 193 93.4
East of England Peterborough 183 93
Yorkshire and Humber East Riding of Yorkshire 314 93
East of England Luton 200 92.6
East of England Fenland 92 92.3
East Midlands Bassetlaw 106 92
North West Halton 117 91.9
South East Adur 58 91.2
South East Dover 104 90.8
East Midlands Amber Valley 113 90.5
London Newham 310 90
West Midlands Wyre Forest 90 90
East Midlands Kettering 89 89.9
East of England Maldon 57 89.9
East of England Thurrock 151 89.7
London Hammersmith and Fulham 163 89.7
London Sutton 181 89.6
South East Havant 111 89.6
South West Cheltenham 105 89.6
East of England Basildon 164 89.2
London Greenwich 249 89.2
West Midlands Telford and Wrekin 155 89.2
South East Gosport 76 88.9
East of England Brentwood 68 88.6
South West Sedgemoor 107 88.2
North West Cheshire East 332 88
East of England Broxbourne 85 87.7
East Midlands Newark and Sherwood 105 87.6
East of England King's Lynn and West Norfolk 133 87.6
London Barking and Dagenham 182 87.4
Yorkshire and Humber Selby 76 87.4
East of England Harlow 75 87.3
London Hillingdon 261 87
East Midlands Northampton 195 86.9
South East Woking 88 86.8
North West Cheshire West and Chester 291 86.7
South East Gravesham 92 86.6
South West North Devon 82 86.6
South East Swale 125 86.3
South East Arun 135 85.8
South West Isles of Scilly 2 85.8
South West Gloucester 110 85.7
West Midlands Tamworth 66 85.7
East Midlands Broxtowe 96 85.6
Yorkshire and Humber Richmondshire 46 85.4
London Wandsworth 274 85.2
South West Cornwall 473 85.2
South West West Dorset 86 84.7
West Midlands Bromsgrove 82 84.7
West Midlands Nuneaton and Bedworth 108 84.6
South East Medway 234 84.5
West Midlands Rugby 89 84.5
South East Canterbury 137 84.3
London Bexley 206 84
East Midlands Oadby and Wigston 47 83.9
East Midlands South Kesteven 118 83.7
West Midlands Redditch 71 83.4
Yorkshire and Humber Harrogate 133 83.2
East of England Hertsmere 86 82.9
South East West Berkshire 131 82.6
South West Teignbridge 107 82.4
South West Torridge 55 82.1
South West Plymouth 215 82
South East Slough 121 81.9
South East Oxford 127 81.8
East Midlands North West Leicestershire 80 81.3
East Midlands Boston 55 81.2
South West Exeter 103 80.8
London Kingston upon Thames 140 80.6
South West West Devon 44 80.4
London Enfield 266 80.1
London Bromley 261 79.7
East Midlands Charnwood 141 79.5
South East Surrey Heath 70 78.9
East Midlands West Lindsey 74 78.8
South West Christchurch 39 78.6
East Midlands Melton 40 78.5
South West Bath and North East Somerset 146 78.1
London Ealing 269 78
South West Purbeck 36 77.7
West Midlands Birmingham 876 77.7
London Haringey 210 77.2
West Midlands Stafford 103 77.1
East of England North Hertfordshire 102 76.9
South East New Forest 138 76.9
East Midlands South Holland 71 76.7
South East South Bucks 53 75.9
London Hounslow 201 74.9
East Midlands Gedling 87 74.5
East Midlands East Northamptonshire 68 74.4
East Midlands South Derbyshire 74 73.7
South East Windsor and Maidenhead 110 73.5
South East Epsom and Ewell 58 73.4
East of England Huntingdonshire 129 73.3
East of England St Edmundsbury 83 73.2
South East Cherwell 107 73
East of England Dacorum 111 72.8
East of England Braintree 110 72.7
South East Maidstone 120 72.4
South East Tunbridge Wells 85 72.4
South East Crawley 80 71.7
West Midlands Warwick 100 71.7
South West Stroud 84 71.5
East of England Colchester 134 71.4
South West Swindon 155 70.9
South West South Somerset 118 70.9
North West West Lancashire 80 70.8
South East Runnymede 61 70.6
East of England East Cambridgeshire 62 70.3
London Kensington and Chelsea 110 70.2
West Midlands Solihull 149 70.2
East Midlands Derbyshire Dales 50 70
London Harrow 174 70
South East Chichester 83 69.7
South West West Somerset 24 69.6
South East Eastleigh 90 69.5
East Midlands Rutland 27 69.3
South East Ashford 87 69.1
South West Wiltshire 340 69.1
East Midlands North East Derbyshire 69 68.7
East Midlands Blaby 67 68.7
East Midlands North Kesteven 78 68.6
East of England East Hertfordshire 100 68.4
East of England Suffolk Coastal 87 68.1
London Barnet 262 68.1
South West Taunton Deane 79 68.1
West Midlands Stratford-on-Avon 84 68.1
South East Wycombe 119 67.9
Yorkshire and Humber Hambleton 61 67.3
East of England Chelmsford 117 67.2
South West North Somerset 142 67.1
East of England Central Bedfordshire 185 66.9
London Redbridge 201 66.7
South East Hart 63 66.4
South East West Oxfordshire 72 66.2
East of England Uttlesford 57 66.1
South East South Oxfordshire 92 66.1
South East Mid Sussex 97 65.7
South West Forest of Dean 56 65.6
East Midlands Harborough 59 65.4
South West East Devon 91 64.9
West Midlands Lichfield 66 64.2
London Richmond upon Thames 125 64
South East Elmbridge 87 63.9
West Midlands Shropshire 200 63.6
East Midlands Rushcliffe 73 63.4
East of England Breckland 87 63.4
East of England St Albans 93 63.3
East of England South Norfolk 83 62.4
South East Tonbridge and Malling 79 62.1
South West South Gloucestershire 171 61.8
North West Knowsley 91 61.5
South West Cotswold 53 61.5
West Midlands Malvern Hills 47 61.4
South East Tandridge 53 61.3
West Midlands Wychavon 75 60.9
South East Spelthorne 60 60.7
South West North Dorset 43 60.6
East of England Welwyn Hatfield 73 60.3
South East Lewes 61 60
South East East Hampshire 70 59
South East Aylesbury Vale 113 58.6
South West Mendip 66 58.3
South East Rother 54 57.5
West Midlands Herefordshire 109 57.5
East of England Three Rivers 53 57.2
South East Wealden 90 56.9
East Midlands South Northamptonshire 51 56.8
South East Basingstoke and Deane 99 56.5
East of England Mid Suffolk 56 55.6
East Midlands Daventry 45 55.5
South East Reigate and Banstead 80 55.1
South East Mole Valley 48 55
South East Winchester 67 54.4
East of England Babergh 49 54.3
South East Guildford 78 53.1
East of England Epping Forest 68 52.3
South East Waverley 65 52.2
South East Bracknell Forest 62 51.8
West Midlands South Staffordshire 57 51.3
South West South Hams 43 50.7
South East Horsham 70 50.5
South East Chiltern 47 49.4
South East Test Valley 60 48.9
South West East Dorset 43 48.3
East of England Broadland 61 47.9
South East Fareham 55 47.5
South East Vale of White Horse 61 47.4
East of England South Cambridgeshire 69 44.2
South West Tewkesbury 38 42.9
South West Mid Devon 34 42.6
South East Sevenoaks 50 42
East Midlands Corby 28 41
South East Wokingham 59 36.2
East of England Rochford 22 25.7
London City of London* 419 0-No data
North West Bury No data 0-No data

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