Consumption of takeaway and fast food in a deprived inner London Borough: are they associated with childhood obesity?

Abstract

Objective

A major concern is the ubiquitous presence of fast food and takeaway outlets within easy walking distance of schools, particularly in the light of the increasing burden of childhood obesity. Here, the associations between the schoolchildren's weights, their consumption of fast food and takeaway outlets were examined in a deprived inner London Borough.

Design

This is a cross-sectional study.

Participants

193 schoolchildren (aged between 11 and 14 years old) participated in this study.

Main outcome measures

Body mass index (BMI) percentiles specific for age and gender were obtained. Frequency of food and drinks purchased from fast food outlets and takeaway outlets over a weekly period and preferred types of drinks and food products usually consumed were measured.

Results

More than 50% of the children in our survey purchased food or drinks from fast food or takeaway outlets twice or more a week, with about 10% consuming fast food or drinks from these outlets daily. About 70% of these children from Black ethnic groups and 54% of Asians purchased fast food more than twice a week. BMI has a significantly inverse relationship to fast food consumption. However, when age and gender are accounted, the BMI age–gender percentile is no longer significantly related to fast food consumption.

Conclusions

This study revealed a very high frequency of fast food consumption among the schoolchildren. Taste, quick access and peer influence were major contributing factors. These schoolchildren are exposed to an obesogenic environment, and it is not surprising that in this situation, many of these children are already overweight and will likely become obese as adults.

Article summary

Article focus

• To investigate the use of fast food and takeaway outlets among schoolchildren in an inner London Borough, which has a high concentration of these outlets and a higher regional level of obesity levels among the children as compared with national levels.

• To examine the relationship between the schoolchildren's weight status and the various characteristics related to use of fast food outlets.

Key messages

• More than half of the children in our survey purchased food or drinks from fast food or takeaway outlets twice or more a week, with one in 10 of them consuming fast food or drinks from these outlets everyday.

• 70% of the children also preferred to buy sweetened soft drinks over other drinks when purchasing fast food.

• Prompt actions need to be taken to either limit the ability of these children to access fast food outlets or to change the foods or beverages they purchased at these outlets.

Strengths and limitations of this study

• The BMI age–gender percentiles of the children and fast food consumption was measured in a deprived area of inner London borough.

• Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to further elucidate the relationship between the weight status, fast food consumption and the various socioeconomic factors influencing these children's purchase patterns.