224082 Relation of fast food restaurant availability with obesity and dietary intake among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study, 2000-2004

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

DeMarc Hickson, PhD , Jackson Heart Study, Jackson State Univerisity, Jackson, MS
Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PhD , Department of Epidemiology, Center for Integrative Approaches to Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Adam Smith , Jackson Heart Study, Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS
Katherine L. Tucker, PhD , Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Larry Gore, BS , Office of Communicable Diseases, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
Lei Zhang, PhD MBA , Office of Health Data and Research, Mississippi State Department of Health, Jackson, MS
Sharon Wyatt, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS
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-->

Learning Areas:
Environmental health sciences
Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the importance of the local food environmental in relation to dietary intake and obesity among African Americans. 2. Interpret and articulate the associations between fast food restaurant (FFR) availability and dietary intake and obesity measures. 3. Discuss policy initiatives and zoning laws limiting the number of FFRs in certain locations and providing incentives for supermarkets and other food retailers to offer healthy food items.

Keywords: Obesity, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted research in this area for over 7 years and currently have several papers either under review or accepted at a scientific journal. In addition, I have conducted oral and paper presentations at a number scientific meetings.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.