Relation of fast food restaurant availability with obesity and dietary intake among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study, 2000-2004

Background: Obesogenic environments, particularly the availability of inexpensive, energy-dense high-fat foods such as fast foods, are receiving increased attention as an ecological determinant of the obesity epidemic. However, there is limited empirical data on the relation of fast food restaurant (FFR) availability with dietary intake and weight among non-whites, especially African Americans.

Methods: Cross-sectional relations of FFR availability with dietary intake and obesity were investigated in 4,740 African American adults 21 to 94 years in the Jackson Heart Study (55.2±12.6 years, 63.3% female). Circular buffers with differing radii were centered at each participant's geocoded location and FFR availability was assessed by tallying the number of FFRs contained within each buffer region.

Results: FFR availability was patterned clear evidence that FFR availability is patterned by neighborhood socioeconomic status and race/ethnic composition. No consistent associations between FFR availability and BMI or waist circumference were observed. Greater FFR availability was associated with higher energy intake among younger men and women (<55 years), even after adjustment for individual SES. For each standard deviation increase in FFR availability, the energy intake among younger men and women increased by 138 and 58 KCal, respectively. Contrary to expectation, FFR availability was inversely associated with percent saturated fat and dietary fiber among women.

Conclusions: FFR availability contributes to energy intake in younger African Americans who are also more likely to consume fast food, suggesting the local food environment influences dietary patterns in this population. The contributions of environmental features to energy intake and longitudinal changes in weight deserve further investigation. 010-->