Is the number of fast-food outlets in the neighbourhood related to screen-detected type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated risk factors?

Objective We investigated whether a higher number of fast-food outlets in an individual’s home neighbourhood is associated with increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and
related risk factors, including obesity.

Design Cross-sectional study.

Three UK-based diabetes screening studies (one general population, two
high-risk populations) conducted between 2004 and 2011. The primary
outcome was screen-detected type 2 diabetes. Secondary outcomes were
risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Subjects In total 10 461 participants (mean age 59 years; 53 % male; 21 % non-White ethnicity).

Results There was a higher number of neighbourhood (500 m radius from home postcode) fast-food outlets among non-White ethnic groups (P<0·001) and in socially deprived areas (P<0·001).
After adjustment (social deprivation, urban/rural, ethnicity, age,
sex), more fast-food outlets was associated with significantly increased
odds for diabetes (OR=1·02; 95 % CI 1·00, 1·04) and obesity (OR=1·02;
95 % CI 1·00, 1·03). This suggests that for every additional two outlets
per neighbourhood, we would expect one additional diabetes case,
assuming a causal relationship between the fast-food outlets and
diabetes.

Conclusions
These results suggest that increased exposure to fast-food outlets is
associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity, which has
implications for diabetes prevention at a public health level and for
those granting planning permission to new fast-food outlets.

No comments: