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A study published in a recent issue of Health Affairs suggests that the year-long ordinance to restrict the construction of stand-alone fast-food restaurants in South Los Angeles has done little to curb obesity rates, the Los Angeles Times reports. Unanimously approved in July 2008 by the city council, the ordinance was intended to address excessive obesity rates in South Los Angeles. To evaluate the efficacy of the ordinance, researchers from Rand Health, which is part of the Rand Corp., analyzed data from InfoUSA and surveyed 1,480 Los Angeles County residents. According to the data, the number of fast-food restaurants in South Los Angeles is fewer per capita than in other areas of the city. In addition, the per capita density of convenience stores, such as 7-Eleven or Fast Mart, in South Los Angeles is similar to that of West Los Angeles and the county average. Acknowledging that South Los Angeles residents have a significantly higher body-mass index (BMI) and are more likely to be obese than residents elsewhere in Los Angeles, the researchers began evaluating the calorie consumption of South Los Angeles residents. According to the researchers, consumption of discretionary calories—which are calories consumed from cookies, candy, salty snacks, soda and alcohol—is significantly higher in South Los Angeles than in higher-income areas in Los Angeles County. Specifically, residents of South Los Angles daily consume 122 calories from candy and 49 calories from cookies, versus 87 calories and 32 calories, respectively, among residents from wealthier parts of the county. South Los Angeles residents also consumed far more calories from soda. Meanwhile, the researchers determined that there was no significant difference in the proportion of the population who engaged in at least 300 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity per week. However, residents in South Los Angeles watched more television. While the researchers concede that "regulating the food environment may be a promising direction for preventing obesity," they caution that "the one-year ordinance restricting fast-food outlets is not the right application." Instead, they suggest that "interventions such as portion control or counteradvertising may be more likely to lead to change as far as diet and obesity are concerned." According to the Los Angeles Times, the researchers will continue to evaluate the data they collected and plan to launch a second study in a yet-to-be-determined city that is soon expected to adopt labeling laws (Hirsch, Los Angeles Times, 10/6/09; MacVean, Los Angeles Times, 10/6/09; UPI, 10/6/09; Sturm/Cohen, Health Affairs, 10/6/09 [subscription required]).