Fast food diet could be linked
to diabetes
January 26, 2005
A new study by Boston Children's Hospital suggests
that eating fast food more than twice per week can lead
to more than just weight gain. It may also bring on
diabetes. The study is a bit inconclusive though. It's
authors are careful to note that it's not clear if the
increase in diabetes is related exclusively to diet
or to the overall unhealthy lifestyle that frequent
fast food eaters tend to follow.
- Eating fast food more than twice a week has strong
links with weight gain and insulin resistance, a US
study shows.
- Boston Children's Hospital experts followed more
than 3,000 young people's eating habits over 15 years.
- But other experts said people who ate a lot of fast
food were also likely have generally unhealthy lifestyles,
increasing their risk of disease.
- The 2004 film Supersize Me documented the effects
on health of eating nothing but fast food for a month.
- The US study looked at the eating habits of 3,000
African-American and white adults aged between 18
and 30.
- Those who visited fast-food restaurants more than
twice a week (87 people) gained on average an extra
4.5kg (9.9lbs) and had a two-fold greater increase
in insulin resistance compared to those who went less
than once a week.
- Overall, it was found that white women ate fast
food the least, with an average of 1.3 visits to restaurants
per week.
- He added: "In view of the high and increasing
rates of fast-food consumption, further research into
the effects of this dietary pattern on public health
should be given priority."
- In a commentary in the Lancet, Professor Arne Astrup,
of the research department of human nutrition at Denmark's
Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, said
the study was limited because it relied on people
reporting their dietary habits accurately.
- Professor Astrup said the fast-food industry would
argue there was little compelling evidence to show
large portions were damaging health.
- But he said: "Appropriate action would be to
reduce portions to normal sizes and to sell burgers
of lean meat, whole-grain bread or buns, fat-reduced
mayonnaise, more vegetables, lower-fat fired potatoes
and reduced-sugar soft drinks.
Source:www.newstarget.com
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