Getting Out of the Fast-Food Comfort Zone

Photo: Carmen Martínez Banús / Istock

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It makes intuitive sense that living near fast-food restaurants would be associated with weight gain. Relying on a car to get around as opposed to walking would have the same effect. But, if you live near fast-food restaurants and you have a car it turns out the opposite might be true. According to a study by the University of Pittsburgh, available in the Journal of Urban Health, "living without a car in close proximity to fast-food restaurants is associated with excess body mass index and weight gain." More evidence that Your 'Hood Affects Your Health.

"Fast food may be specific to weight gain in particular populations and locations," said Sanae Inagami, M.D., the study's lead author and assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "People who are less affluent don't own cars and can't go distances for healthier foods. As a result, they may end up opting for the lower-priced and high caloric foods available at fast-food chains."

The study was based on surveys from over 2,000 adults in 63 neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. The study found that residents who did not own cars weighed less, on average 8.5 pounds less, then those residents with cars, except those participants that lived in a high fast-food concentration area without a car. A high fast-food concentration was defined as having five or more fast-food restaurants per mile. Those who were car-less in high fast-food concentrated areas weighed 2.7 pounds more than car owners in the same area, and 12 pounds more than participants living in low fast-food concentrated areas. Those without cars in areas without fast food weighed the least. Prior to this study, the Los Angeles City Council had issued a ban on building new fast-food restaurants in South Los Angeles, where there is a high concentration of these restaurants. This measure was supported by the study as a way to combat the obesity epidemic.

Public transportation was also mentioned in the study's discussion as having an effect on the study's outcome. In fact, the study stated that their findings may not apply to cities with well-developed public transportation systems. The findings underscore the many health factors associated with someone living in an urban environment.

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