Density and Proximity of Fast Food Restaurants and Body Mass Index Among African Americans

Abstract

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to address current gaps in the literature by examining the associations of fast food restaurant (FFR) density around the home and FFR proximity to the home, respectively, with body mass index (BMI) among a large sample of African American adults from Houston, Texas. Methods. We used generalized linear models with generalized estimating equations to examine associations of FFR density at 0.5-, 1-, 2-, and 5-mile road network buffers around the home with BMI and associations of the closest FFR to the home with BMI. All models were adjusted for a range of individual-level covariates and neighborhood socioeconomic status. We additionally investigated the moderating effects of household income on these relations. Data were collected from December 2008 to July 2009. Results. FFR density was not associated with BMI in the main analyses. However, FFR density at 0.5, 1, and 2 miles was positively associated with BMI among participants with lower incomes (P ≤ .025). Closer FFR proximity was associated with higher BMI among all participants (P < .001), with stronger associations emerging among those of lower income (P < .013) relative to higher income (P < .014). Conclusions. Additional research with more diverse African American samples is needed, but results supported the potential for the fast food environment to affect BMI among African Americans, particularly among those of lower economic means.

Higher densities of fast-food and full-service restaurants are not associated with obesity prevalence

“…Several previous studies have looked at the food environment surrounding the homes of focal individuals with the use of various radii #2 miles (3.2 km) to see whether there is an association between the local numbers of FFRs and individual BMIs. Most of these studies showed no association (56-58), extremely weak positive associations (59,60), or associations only in certain groups [e.g., low-income individuals (61)]. Similarly, studies that used zip code areas as the sampling unit (generally zip code areas are smaller than counties) have failed to find associations between local fastfood establishment density and obesity (62,63).…”

Accumulation of childhood poverty on young adult overweight or obese status: race/ethnicity and gender disparities

“…Specifically, the reoccurring exposure to childhood poverty places white, black and Hispanic women at risk for being OV/OB as young adults, net of various longitudinal measures of SES, poverty in young adulthood, and the intergenerational transmission of economic disadvantage and BMI. Children that experience family level poverty generally reside in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, which are associated with lower levels of safety and fewer opportunities for physical activity30 and more fast-food restaurants 31. Further, there are behavioural and physiological underpinnings associated with residing in stressful environments that are associated with weight gain, especially among women 32–34.…”

Food swamps by area socioeconomic deprivation in New Zealand: a national study

“…Internationally, studies (Burns and Inglis 2007;Pearce et al 2007a;Reitzel et al 2014) have found higher clustering of unhealthy food outlets in more deprived areas than in less deprived areas, yet few studies have characterised these areas as food swamps.…”