Department of Sociology, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang, China; Center for Asian & Pacific Economic & Social Development, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China; Research Institute for Female Culture, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
Department of Public Health, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA.
Soc Sci Med. 2021 Jan;269:113601. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113601. Epub 2020 Dec 13.
It is widely believed that better access to fast food (FF) outlets increases FF consumption and thus the risk of obesity; yet, thus far, there are limited results to support this conclusion in Asian countries. A recent study by Hall and his colleagues (in press) examined the cross-sectional relationship between FF restaurant density and the likelihood of being overweight or obese among 1388 female Filipino migrant workers living in Macao, China. It found that FF restaurant density within a 0.5-mile buffer zone around one's home was significantly associated with a 7% increase (95% CI: 1%-14%) in the odds of being overweight or obese in this population. Based on these findings, the authors suggested improving access to healthy foods as one of the means to fight the obesity epidemic. The current article examines literature 1) on the relationship between obesity, FF consumption, and access to FF outlets; 2) on different measures of access to FF outlets; 3) on potential confounders and effect modifiers such as neighborhood deprivation and transportation; and 4) on challenges and implications for researchers and policymakers. Considering the growing consumption of FF and obesity rates in many countries especially in developing countries, it is important to regulate the FF industry and help consumers improve their related knowledge and behaviors. We also recommend that government policies abate obesogenic environments and thus curb the obesity epidemic in the future.
人们普遍认为，更多地接触快餐店（FF）会增加 FF 的消费，从而增加肥胖的风险；然而，到目前为止，亚洲国家的有限研究结果支持这一结论。最近，霍尔及其同事的一项研究（即将发表）调查了快餐店密度与中国澳门 1388 名菲律宾女性移民工人超重或肥胖可能性之间的横断面关系。研究发现，在家周围 0.5 英里缓冲区内的快餐店密度与超重或肥胖的几率增加 7%（95%CI：1%-14%）显著相关。基于这些发现，作者建议改善获取健康食品的机会，作为对抗肥胖流行的一种手段。本文还探讨了以下文献：1）肥胖、FF 消费和接触 FF 店之间的关系；2）接触 FF 店的不同措施；3）潜在的混杂因素和效应修饰剂，如邻里贫困和交通；4）对研究人员和政策制定者的挑战和影响。考虑到许多国家，尤其是发展中国家，FF 的消费和肥胖率不断上升，规范 FF 行业并帮助消费者提高相关知识和行为非常重要。我们还建议政府政策减轻致肥胖环境，从而遏制未来的肥胖流行。
