Obesity Revisited!

So what's news today? Study: Fast food clusters near schools

The subtitle: Researchers say pattern likely contributes to obesity

Shocking! Shocking, I tell you. This is NEWS. I hate to tell these researchers who live in bubbles, but where there are people, there is fast food. Look around you - if you're my age, those "fast food clusters" were near your schools 10, 20, 30 years ago, no? But suddenly these "clusters" are contribuing to the obesity of someone you know! Stop the clusters!

The scene is repeated throughout Chicago, where fast-food restaurants are clustered within easy walking distance of elementary and high schools, according to a study by Harvard's School of Public Health. The researchers say the pattern probably exists in urban areas nationwide and is likely contributing to the nation's obesity epidemic.

"It can be very hard for children and teens to eat in healthy ways when they're inundated with this," said lead author Bryn Austin, a researcher at Harvard and Children's Hospital Boston.

Still, children and teens don't eat by osmosis. Somehow those 10, 20, and 30 years ago I just mentioned did occur without people tripping over their own fat.

Some sense:

McDonald's Corp. spokesman Walt Riker said the fast-food giant locates its restaurants "in high-traffic areas like every other business, to serve customers. It has nothing to do with schools." He called the study assumptions speculative since the researchers didn't assess whether proximity of fast food affected students' eating habits.

Speculative is a really nice word. I'm sure Mr. Riker was rolling his eyes the entire conversation.

How about this, researchers. Take some time and study some non-obese folk, figure out why they're not fat, and WRITE ABOUT THAT. Call it a study. Thank you.

hln

Posted by hln at August 26, 2005 02:36 PM | Dripping Bloody Sarcasm | TrackBack