School parking ban to fight obesity

A parking ban near schools to fight childhood obesity is one idea being examined by a parliamentary inquiry.

Parliament's health select committee visited Auckland this week and was told that 40 per cent of all car trips in the region were education-related, including driving children to school.

At the hearing, the Auckland Regional Public Health Service outlined anti-obesity schemes.

One idea to be explored was banning parking around schools to encourage parents to drop children some distance from the school. This would force them to walk at least part of the way, possibly with a "walking school bus".

"Disincentives to delivering children to school by private car are needed," the service said in its submission to the select committee, which has been holding hearings into the causes of obesity and type two diabetes, screening and prevention measures.

"This will also reduce the traffic hazard associated with school entrances at the start and finish of the school day."

The service also proposed banning dairies and fast food outlets near schools.

Public health registrar Dr Denise Barnfather cited a South Auckland college where a pedestrian crossing led from the school to a dairy.

But Principals' Federation president Pat Newman scorned the ideas as unjustified restrictions on individual freedom. "I thought the communist state had disappeared."

He said safety concerns meant parking was already prohibited on sections of roads outside some schools.

Obesity should be addressed through nutrition education, and providing this education was not the schools' responsibility.

But Auckland Regional Public Health Service manager Monica Briggs said many schools would welcome a parking ban.

The MPs also learned from the Heart Foundation that in a typical week 55,882 pies - but only 3922 pieces of fruit - were sold in New Zealand's primary and intermediate schools.

The rate of adult obesity has doubled since 1977 - 21 per cent are obese and a further 35 per cent overweight.

Among children, 10 per cent are obese and 21 per cent overweight.

Obesity is linked to health conditions such as type two diabetes and heart disease.