Does Living Close to Fast Food Make You Eat More of it?
June 12, 2006 – 12:58 pmI was reading an interesting study that was done to gauge obesity rates with the availability of fast food.
Some of the points, like children eating fast food are going to have higher fat levels and as higher BMI’s (Body Mass Indexes) and were less likely to eat vegetables and being less physically active seem likely.
Other restuarants that weren’t considered “fast food” weren’t included in this study. This, in my opinion, makes for an incomplete study since full service restuarants also serve children food. In most cases I’m sure kids eat much the same way there as what they do at a fast food joint. Burgers or chicken nuggets with french fries.
Where I live, I’d say that there at least 30 restuarants within a 2 mile driving distance. A brief survey of parking lots and drive thru lines indicates that there is plenty of business for all of them, in fact new dining options are being built every day. A survey (by eye) of the people that live around me indicate they’re eating just fine.. at home or otherwise..
What are your thoughts? Does the availability of fast food make it more likely for you to take your children there?
One Response to “Does Living Close to Fast Food Make You Eat More of it?”
I think regardless of whether your neighbourhood is full of fast food restaurants, your values and health choices can still determine what you eat. If I’m given a choice on a road trip, I would personally skip a meal rather than eat fast food. That’s my own belief. I would wait until something healthy came along.
By Liara Covert on Feb 27, 2007