Epidemic obesity in the United States: are fast foods and television viewing contributing?
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the association between TV viewing, fast food eating, and body mass index.


METHODS
Associations between hours of TV viewing, frequency of eating at fast food restaurants, body mass index, and behaviors were assessed cross sectionally and longitudinally over 1 year in 1059 men and women.


RESULTS
Fast food meals and TV viewing hours were positively associated with energy intake and body mass index in women but not in men. TV viewing predicted weight gain in high-income women.


CONCLUSIONS
Secular increases in fast food availability and access to televised entertainment may contribute to increasing obesity rates in the United States.
Jeffery
R W
RW
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55454-1015, USA.
French
S A
SA
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012147:Restaurants; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013690:Television; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology