Marianna Virtanen1, Hanne Kivimäki2, Jenni Ervasti3, Tuula Oksanen3, Jaana Pentti3, Anne Kouvonen4, Jaana I Halonen3, Mika Kivimäki5, Jussi Vahtera6. 1. 1 Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland marianna.virtanen@ttl.fi. 2. 2 Department of Welfare, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland. 3. 1 Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. 4. 3 Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland 4 University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Faculty in Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland 5 UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health (Northern Ireland), Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK. 5. 1 Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland 6 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK. 6. 1 Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland 7 Department of Public Health, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Environmental factors may affect adolescents' eating habits and thereby body weight. However, the contribution of school neighbourhood environment is poorly understood. This study examined the association between proximity of a fast-food outlet or grocery store to school and adolescents' eating habits and overweight. METHODS: Participants were 23 182 adolescents (mean age 15 years) who responded to a classroom survey in 181 lower secondary schools in Finland (2008-09). School location was linked to data on distance from school to the nearest fast-food outlet or grocery store (≤100 m, 101-500 m, >500 m) using global positioning system-coordinate databases. Outcomes were irregular eating habits (skipping breakfast, skipping free school lunch, skipping free school-provided snacks and not having family dinners), the accumulation of these habits and overweight, including obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Thirteen percentage of the participants were overweight. Having a fast-food outlet or grocery store near school was associated with skipping often breakfast and free school lunch, and the accumulation of irregular eating habits. The proximity of a fast-food outlet or grocery store was associated with a 1.25-fold (95% confidence interval 1.03-1.52) risk of overweight among adolescent with a low socioeconomic status but not among those with higher socioeconomic status. This association was partly (12%) explained by the accumulation of irregular eating habits. CONCLUSIONS: Among adolescents from low socioeconomic background, the presence of fast-food retailers near schools is associated with accumulation of irregular eating habits and greater overweight. These findings suggest that obesogenic school neighbourhoods may contribute to social inequalities in overweight.
BACKGROUND: Environmental factors may affect adolescents' eating habits and thereby body weight. However, the contribution of school neighbourhood environment is poorly understood. This study examined the association between proximity of a fast-food outlet or grocery store to school and adolescents' eating habits and overweight. METHODS: Participants were 23 182 adolescents (mean age 15 years) who responded to a classroom survey in 181 lower secondary schools in Finland (2008-09). School location was linked to data on distance from school to the nearest fast-food outlet or grocery store (≤100 m, 101-500 m, >500 m) using global positioning system-coordinate databases. Outcomes were irregular eating habits (skipping breakfast, skipping free school lunch, skipping free school-provided snacks and not having family dinners), the accumulation of these habits and overweight, including obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Thirteen percentage of the participants were overweight. Having a fast-food outlet or grocery store near school was associated with skipping often breakfast and free school lunch, and the accumulation of irregular eating habits. The proximity of a fast-food outlet or grocery store was associated with a 1.25-fold (95% confidence interval 1.03-1.52) risk of overweight among adolescent with a low socioeconomic status but not among those with higher socioeconomic status. This association was partly (12%) explained by the accumulation of irregular eating habits. CONCLUSIONS: Among adolescents from low socioeconomic background, the presence of fast-food retailers near schools is associated with accumulation of irregular eating habits and greater overweight. These findings suggest that obesogenic school neighbourhoods may contribute to social inequalities in overweight.
Authors: Mika Matsuzaki; Brisa N Sánchez; Maria Elena Acosta; Jillian Botkin; Emma V Sanchez-Vaznaugh Journal: Obes Rev Date: 2020-02-05 Impact factor: 9.213