The WA suburbs with the worst ‘health score’ (and which one could get a fifth McDonald’s?)

A community in Perth’s south has raised the alarm over a proposal to build a fifth McDonald’s chain in their suburb – and the second to sit directly opposite a primary school.

The development plans come as a new report reveals Perth is the “least healthy” of all capital cities in the country, and the only capital with worse health outcomes than its surrounding regions – partly attributed to urban sprawl and a lack of access to healthy food options.

City of Rockingham councillor Kelly Middlecoat said locals had expressed their concerns to her about the American burger chain’s plans to open a fifth Baldivis outlet.

“Key issues raised include the proposed restaurant’s proximity Pine View Primary School, the presence of four existing McDonald’s in the area, and the lack of diverse dining options,” she said.

The proposal closed for public consultation on November 11, and the council will now review the feedback.

Andres Gutierrez, the general manager of health at insurance company iSelect, said access to fast food had a big impact on health outcomes and contributed to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.

“This is more likely to be an issue in areas where these types of outlets are most common, as an overabundance of fast food options can perpetuate poor dietary habits, especially when healthier food choices are harder to come by and convenience and affordability make fast food an easy option,” he said.

But other factors contributed to poor health across Perth.

The insurer was behind the new report, which brought together the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on the prevalence of long-term health conditions, including mental health, at a state, regional and suburb level.