EUGENE, Ore., Mar 5, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. researchers say a person who
lives in a neighborhood with more fast food outlets and less opportunities to
walk has a higher risk of weight gain.
The study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, finds
neighborhoods having the highest amount of fast food outlets were associated
with an increase of 3 pounds in weight and .8 inches in waist circumference in
those who ate at fast food restaurants.
On the other hand, neighborhoods with high-walkability were associated with a
decrease of 2.7 pounds in weight and 0.6 inches in waist size among residents,
who increased their levels of vigorous physical activity during a one-year
period.
"This is one of the few longitudinal studies that focus on change in
individuals' body weight over time in relation to their lifestyle behaviors and
immediate living environments," Fuzhong Li of the Oregon Research Institute in
Eugene, Ore., said in a statement.
"The uniqueness of this study lies in its environment-person approach which we
use to show that health-impeding environments, such as a high density of
fast-food outlets, together with residents' behavior, such as eating fast food
regularly, can have an unhealthy impact on body weight."
Health-promoting environments, such as walkable neighborhood streets, in
conjunction with physically active residents, can have a positive impact on body
weight over time, Li added.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International