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Heartline Magazine January - March 2006
Fast Food habits under study
Of the five new McDonald's restaurants that
open around the world every day, four are located beyond US
borders. Coca-Cola Company is buying water licenses in poor
countries--many still bereft of safe drinking water--where they
sell soda for less than the price of a glass of clean water and
in Africa, Coca-Cola is the number one employer.
The CARDIA study's 15-year follow-up,
reviewed below, which underscores the relation between frequency
of fast food consumption and changes in body weight and insulin
resistance, can help inform the development of strategies to
promote healthy nutrition in developing countries.
 A
total of 3,031 young black and white adults between the ages of
18-30 years who were participating in CARDIA were followed over
a 15 year period for purposes of determining the association
between food intake, particularly consumption of fast foods, and
long-term changes in body weight and insulin resistance. A
structured dietary interview was utilized to assess dietary
practices. A single question was posed to participating subjects
about the consumption of breakfast, lunch, or dinner at various
fast food establishments.
The frequency of fast food consumption was
relatively stable over time (1985-2000) in blacks but,
encouragingly, declined over time in whites. The consumption of
fast foods was highest in blacks than whites and in men as
compared with women. The lowest reported weekly consumption of
fast foods was highest in black men (mean: 2.3 times/week) and
lowest in white women (mean: 1.3 times/week).
In examining the relation between frequency
of fast food consumption and change in body weight over the
period of follow-up, increased intake of fast foods (3 times per
week) was associated with average weight gains of 2.2 kg. and
1.6 kg. in blacks and whites respectively. Increases in insulin
resistance with more frequent intake of fast foods was noted
even after controlling for a variety of potentially confounding
factors.
The fast food industry has infiltrated
American society, as well as numerous other industrialized
countries, over the past several decades. Consumption of fast
foods by children has particularly increased over time as has
the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and
adolescents. Given the strong tracking of obesity over time, its
association with several chronic diseases of major public health
importance, as well as the relation between being overweight and
other important coronary risk factors, continuing concerns have
been raised about the infatuation of Americans and others with
the consumption of fast food. More global concerns have also
been raised about the extension of the fast food industry to the
broader worldwide marketplace.
Consumption of healthy and nutritious foods
and fruits, either in their raw unadulterated state or prepared
with a minimum of additional changes, needs to remain a staple
of American diets, as well as of the dietary practices of
persons throughout the world. These favorable dietary practices
are particularly important to maintain and/or adopt for
individuals from developing countries who are the new target
audience for the fast food industry.
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