obesity rates in south los angeles grew by 12 per cent over three years despite a much hailed ban on new fast food restaurants, research had found before the dietary ordinance went into effect in 2008, 63 per cent of residents in the area reported being overweight or obese compared to 57 per cent in other parts of the county but three years on, instead of the law curbing weight gain, the opposite trend took force in 2011 75 percent of south los angeles residents reported being overweight or obese, while rates elsewhere only increased by one per cent obesity rates in south los angeles grew by 12per cent despite a much hailed three year ban on stand alone fast food restaurants, a new study has found  the failed fast food ruling targeted a 32 square mile area south of interstate 10 that struggles with high obesity rates and other health problems the law, believed to be the first effort of its kind by a major city to improve public health, did not ban new eateries in strip malls the research by the rand corp think tank found that obesity rates in south los angeles continued to rise after passage of the law 'it had no meaningful effect,' rand senior economist roland sturm said 'there's no evidence that diets have improved more in south los angeles obesity and overweight rates have not fallen' health experts said a single intervention would not reverse the obesity problem people also have to exercise and make lifestyle changes, they said local problem: before the dietary ordinance went into effect in 2008, 63per cent of residents in the area reported being overweight or obese compared to 57per cent in other parts of the county  'it's not just about limiting unhealthy food, but increasing access to healthy food,' said alex ortega, a professor of public health at the university of california, los angeles, who had no role in the study rand researchers reviewed permits issued by the los angeles county department of public health, which inspects food outlets there were no licenses for stand alone fast food restaurants, but chains opened 17 new outlets in strip shopping centers and food courts in south los angeles from 2008 to 2012 almost half of the new food permits were for convenience stores that sell soda and junk food, the study found researchers also compared obesity rates in south los angeles and other parts of the county using surveys that asked residents to report their weight and eating habits supporters said the ordinance worked because it prevented chains from opening new restaurants at major intersections with their own drive thru windows and parking lots they acknowledged it will take some time to see health gains but noted that the area has seen farmers markets and community gardens in recent years 'we never said this ordinance was the silver bullet' to solving the obesity problem, said gwen flynn of the community health councils unhappy: standing outside a mcdonald's in the leimert park neighborhood on wednesday, edward cox lamented the lack of sidewalk cafes   he wasn't a fan of the fast food ban  changing tastes: maurice thrower, who runs a burger joint sandwiched between fast food chains, said he offers healthier fare such as vegetarian and turkey burgers  'as long as we can make sure people have more options, that's the important thing' city councilman bernard parks, who supported the zoning law, said he was hopeful that the area can attract more markets selling fresh food the ordinance was opposed by the california restaurant association spokeswoman janna haynes said the group had no comment on the rand study standing outside a mcdonald's in the leimert park neighborhood on wednesday, edward cox lamented the lack of sidewalk cafes 'i want to sit down and eat, but there's no place to sit down and eat,' said the retiree, who usually drives to another neighborhood to dine out cox said he's hopeful that a planned light rail line will attract a variety of new eateries maurice thrower, who runs a burger joint sandwiched between fast food chains, said he offers healthier fare such as vegetarian and turkey burgers 'once people stop to eat here, they come back,' said thrower, who opened simply delicious burgers last year
63per cent south los angeles 75per cent one per cent
before the dietary ordinance went into effect in 2008, 63per cent of south los angeles reported being overweight or obese  three years on, the number rose to 75per cent  in other parts of the country obesity rates only increased by one per cent  health experts say a single intervention will not reverse obesity issues 