Women Who Live Close to Restaurants Have Higher Body Mass Indexes

Several studies have documented the prevalence of food deserts, urban areas that lack access to grocery stores and healthy food. But not so much research exists that directly observes the effect of the food environment on obesity. The few studies do exist often fail to take into account the built environment; that is, the landscape of a community beyond food retail that affects things like neighborhood walkability and the level of residents' physical activity. A new study out of the University of Buffalo in New York attempts to do just that, and the results are interesting and not altogether expected.

The study, published in the Journal of Planning Education and Research, found overall that the neighborhood food environment is an influential factor on women's body mass indexes (BMI). They found that the more restaurants located within a one-minute walk from a woman's home, the higher her BMI. More specifically, they also found that the closer a woman's home was to a convenience store as opposed to a grocery store, the higher her BMI. This research confirms what those fighting food deserts have been saying all along, and it provides strong ammunition for city planners looking to improve the health of their residents.

Perhaps more surprising was the study's finding that mixed-use neighborhoods, those with a greater variety of commercial and residential properties, were actually associated with greater BMI. Such areas are often promoted for their improved walkability, and are thus thought to combat obesity by increasing physical activity. However, as this research indicated, that increased activity level may be all for naught if the resident is walking to a restaurant or convenience store. This is strong evidence for the idea that the changing American diet is perhaps more to blame for rising obesity rates than decreased activity levels. We are consuming so many more calories that an increase in activity level is often not enough to keep up.

It is also important to note that the researchers found that slightly more influential than either the food or the built environment was a subject's socioeconomic status, underscoring the importance of including fighting poverty as part of any public health strategy.

As with any study, this one has its limitations. The researchers note that they were unable to distinguish between fast food restaurants and other kinds, which would have been helpful given the common disparity between the quality and nutrition of the food offered at each. They also note that while proximity is a likely indicator, the researchers did not actually know where participants shopped for their food. It does seem odd that, in contrast to previous research on the subject, the study only looked at women, a decision that the researchers explain was partly influenced by the slightly higher obesity rate for women as compared to men.

Overall, like any good study, this one raises as many questions as it answers. This is just one study focusing on one county in New York. But I'm hopeful that these findings will open the door to further research in this area. It's important that we learn more about the precise environmental factors that influence obesity so that we can then learn how to combat this growing epidemic.

Photo credit: emples via Flickr