You Want Fries With That?
Here's a hot news flash. Eating a lot of fast food will make you fat.
"Ah, but wait!" the more libertarian among us shout. If you eat a lot of ANYTHING and get no exercise, you will also lose the battle of the bulge. Of course this is true.
However, is there any scientific correlation between the consumption fast food and the health of kids? It turns out there is, and it is outlined in the December 2008 edition of "American Journal of Public Health."
In order to determine the impact of fast-food restaurant locations on student health, researchers from Azusa Pacific University in California reviewed data on more than 500,000 middle school students from the 2002-2005 "California Healthy Kids Survey."
Let's see. They surveyed a half million kids over three years and noted an obvious trend. Yes, that would probably qualify as statistically significant.
According to the data of this research, 28 percent of the students were overweight and 12 percent were obese. Moreover, 55 percent of overweight and obese students attended a school within one-half mile of a fast food restaurant.
Here's the most important part of the research. The study found a 0.10 unit increase in body mass index among students who attended schools within close proximity of fast food establishments compared with students attending schools that are farther away from such restaurants. So, kids who attended schools located within one half mile of a quick serve restaurant were more likely to be fat than their peers who attend schools that are located farther away from Mickey D's, WhooperVille or Taco Loco.
Given the incredible number of fast food joints, it's surprising that the researchers were able to find a school that WASN'T within walking distance to these restaurants. They're everywhere.
Some other juicy morsels that the researchers uncovered, and I know this will shock you, include data about a lack of consumption of the good stuff. Adolescents who attended schools near a fast food outlet were less likely to eat fruits and vegetables and more likely to consume sugar-laden beverages.
Based on these findings, the researchers (who have obviously spent too long in the faculty lounge) recommended that schools DO something about this situation. They suggested that schools implement policies such as limiting student access to fast-food outlets during lunchtime or those cities enact zoning limitations for the establishments to help reduce adolescent obesity.
The odds of a school district or city passing policies or zoning laws that restrict fast food establishments from serving kids Trans fat infused burgers, fries and soft drinks are equal to those of the TV networks restricting food and beverage advertising on kid shows. It ain't gonna happen. There's too much money at stake.
In fact, one of the best known and most successful of the fast food purveyors is enjoying great success in the middle of the biggest recession in the past 50 years. A recent "Wall Street Journal" article noted that McDonalds has reported record revenues for Q4 of 2008 and will have another 650 restaurants open by the end of this year. My guess it that more than a few of these new restaurants will be built across the street from some high school.
Same store sales in the chain rose 7.2% in 2008. McDonald's total revenue fell 3.3% to $5.57 billion because of currency translations. The chain serves 58 million customers a day - two million more than a year ago.
Since dining out is one of the first things that a budget-strapped family nukes, McDonald's success is even more amazing. They say that they've done it by fixing up the stores, adding lattes and cappuccinos, extending hours and adding new snack and morning items; all while keeping the wages at a minimum. If you have ever had the pleasure of working in fast food "industry," you understand just how minimum those wages can be.
The biggest fast food franchiser in the world continues to reap big increases in sales while kids who help to make this happen get fatter and fatter and are on their way to heart disease and diabetes. While the fast food outlets could do a better job in making and selling healthier food, they are just playing their part in that market economy that we hold sacrosanct.
The ultimate responsibility for fixing the obesity epidemic among school kids falls on the parents. These are the same folks who serve on school boards, attend PTA meetings, vote for city council members and sit on zoning boards. If that's you - now would be a good time to speak up.