Toowoomba home to 46 fast food restaurants - Toowoomba Chronicle

TOOWOOMBA has been ranked within the top 20 worst areas in the state for fast food restaurants compared to the population.

In a bid to find Queensland's fast food capitals, Diabetes Queensland has ranked areas according to how many fast food restaurants are in the region compared to the population.

Out of a ranking from one to 37, with one considered the worst, Toowoomba ranked number 19.

The analysis found there were 46 fast food outlets in the local government area, or one for every 3484 people.

Toowoomba came in further down the rankings than its neighbours.

The Lockyer Valley ranked 17th, the Southern Downs came in at 14th and Western Downs was number nine.

Meanwhile, Somerset was ranked the best, at number 37, with only two fast food restaurants recorded, or one restaurant per 11,644 people.

Diabetes Queensland chief Michelle Trute said there was a high concentration of fast food outlets in some communities that were on major highways.

"While this isn't necessarily a reflection on councils it is concerning that people who use these highways, including workers in the transport sector and families on long trips, have limited options when it comes to grabbing a bite on the road," she said.

"It might be easy to pull in and grab a burger and a sugary drink but this convenience comes with a long-term cost."

Ms Trute also said a recent health report showed for every dollar Queenslanders spent on food, almost half was spent at fast food outlets.

"This is concerning because meals consumed outside of the home are likely to be larger portions and contain more unhealthy fats and kilojoules," she said.

Ms Trute called for action.

"When it comes to fast food that could include mandatory kilojoule labelling, a tax on sugary drinks, limits on fast food restaurants near certain locations like schools and bans on junk food advertising to children," she said.

FAST FOOD

• In Toowoomba 63.3% of adults are overweight or obese


• Data collected on fast food chains including Oporto, Nandos, KFC, Eagle Boys, Hungry Jacks, Donut King, Red Rooster, Dominos, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Guzman y Gomez, Subway, Noodle Box, Miss India and Pizza Capers.