Bans are all the rage in states like California and New York but the key question is whether or not they actually work; the entire developed world is facing an obesity crisis so if bans are the only thing that will prevent a strained health care system from collapsing, advocates for managing individual behavior say they should be used as needed.

There is a test case already. A Los Angeles ordinance designed to curb obesity in low-income areas by banning the opening of new fast-food restaurants didn't reduce fast-food consumption or reduce obesity rates in the targeted neighborhoods, according to a new study. Since the fast-food restrictions were passed in 2008, overweight and obesity rates in South Los Angeles and other poor neighborhoods targeted by the law have increased faster than other parts of the city and county, according to results in Social Science & Medicine.










