Children are more likely to be overweight or obese if they live in an area surrounded by fast food outlets, a new study indicates.

UK researchers analysed data on the weight of over one million children and compared their results with the availability of unhealthy foods from outlets such as pizzerias, chippers, sweet shops and burger bars.

They found that those living in areas with a high availability of unhealthy foods were more likely to be overweight or obese. This was particularly true for those in secondary school.

"We found that the more unhealthy food outlets there are in a neighbourhood, the greater the number of overweight and obese children. The results were more pronounced in secondary school children who have more spending power to choose their own food. But the association was reversed in areas with more healthy food options available," the researchers said.

They insisted that these findings are important because of the growing problem of childhood obesity worldwide. Children who are obese are much more likely to become obese adults and this can lead to a range of health problems, including heart disease and diabetes. It can also have a major impact on a person's mental health, such as low self-esteem.

The researchers from the University of East Anglia and the Centre for Diet and Activity Research said that these findings should be used ‘to influence planning decisions and help create a more healthy food environment'. This could have a big impact on future generations, they noted.

"Public health policies to reduce obesity in children should incorporate strategies to prevent high concentrations of fast food and other unhealthy food outlets," they added.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Health and Place.