Regular consumption from fast food establishments relative to other restaurants is differentially associated with metabolic outcomes in young adults.
Although away-from-home eating is adversely associated with weight, other comorbidities have not been examined; therefore, we sought to determine the associations of fast food (e.g. Wendy's, McDonalds) and restaurant (sit-down style) consumption (times per week) with weight and multiple metabolic outcomes, including homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), waist circumference, and plasma triglycerides (TG), LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C). We used 3 waves of data (exam y 7, 10, and 20) from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, a prospective cohort study of black and white young adults [aged 25-42 y in 1992-93, n = 3643 (men, 1659; women, 1984)]. Individuals in the highest (vs. lowest) quartile of baseline (defined as the mean of y 7 and 10) fast food consumption had higher y 20 weight [adjusted mean (95% CI): 5.6 kg (CI, 2.1, 9.2); P = 0.002], HOMA-IR [0.9 (CI, 0.4, 1.3); P < 0.001], waist circumference [5.3 cm (CI, 2.8, 7.9); P < 0.000], TG concentrations [0.25 mmol/L (CI, 0.10, 0.40), 22.7 mg/dL (CI, 9.1, 36.3); P = 0.001], and lower HDL-C concentrations [-0.014 mmol/L (CI, -0.215, -0.067), 5.4 mg/dL (CI, -8.3, -2.6); P < 0.000]. Baseline restaurant consumption was unrelated to y 20 outcomes. Adjusted change in weekly restaurant (P < 0.05) and fast food intake (P < 0.001) was associated with 13-y changes in body weight [0.09 kg (CI, 0.02, 0.17) and 0.15 kg (CI, 0.06, 0.24), respectively] and waist circumference [0.08 cm (CI, 0.02, 0.14) and 0.12 cm (CI, 0.04, 0.20), respectively]. Fast food consumption may be an important target for the prevention of adverse metabolic health outcomes.
Department of Nutrition, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, and 4Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27510, USA.
Kiyah J
KJ
Duffey
Penny
P
Gordon-Larsen
Lyn M
LM
Steffen
David R
DR
Jacobs
Barry M
BM
Popkin
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D049628:Body Size; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012147:Restaurants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference; D044465:White People
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008055:Lipids