Don't Have A Car? You Just Might Get Fatter!

Pulse

oi-Staff

Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 11:31

Yes, we have read it right. Earlier it used to be believed that people who own car are at a higher risk of getting fat, but now its been found that those who don't have a car too have a higher risk of obesity. Why?

Because, it has been found that the people who don't have their own cars, live in areas that have a high density of fast food joints and thus could be at the risk of being obese.

"Owning a car is generally associated with a more sedentary lifestyle and excess weight gain because people spend more time in their cars and less time walking," said Dr. Sanae Inagami, study lead author and assistant professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

As part of the research by the University of Pittsburgh, they observed the people living in areas with with high fast food concentration and do not have a car. The researchers thus found that the people in these areas 12 pounds heavier than those living in neighbourhoods but owned a car.

"Fast food may be specific to weight gain in particular populations and locations. People who are less affluent don't own cars and can't go distances for healthier foods. As a result, they may end up opting for the lower-priced and high caloric foods available at fast food chains," she said.

They observed that car owners, on average, weighed 8.5 pounds more than non-car owners, except in areas with high fast food concentration—five fast food restaurants per mile.

The researchers say that non-car owners in high fast food concentration areas were found to weigh 2.7 pounds more than car owners who lived in the same areas, and 12 pounds more than residents of areas without fast food outlets. While those who did not own a car, but lived in areas without fast food outlets, weighed the least.

"Since our study showed that total restaurant density was associated with weight gain in all individuals, not just those who did not own cars, we also need to encourage people to pay more attention to their food environment," Sanae said.

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