title: The impact of a new McDonald's restaurant on eating behaviours and perceptions of local residents: A natural experiment using repeated cross-sectional data.
abstract: Neighbourhood food environments are posited as an important determinant of eating behaviours; however causality is difficult to establish based on existing studies. Using a natural experiment study design (incorporating repeated cross-sectional data), we tested whether the development of a new McDonald's restaurant increased the frequency of consumption of McDonald's products amongst local residents in the suburbs of Tecoma (site of a new McDonald's restaurant development) and Monbulk (control site) in Victoria, Australia. Across both sites, the reported frequency of McDonald's consumption did not change during the follow-up surveys. In the context explored, the development of a new McDonald's restaurant has not resulted in an increased consumption of McDonald's products.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: lukar.thornton@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lukar E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCann
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D057140:Fast Foods; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D012147:Restaurants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria
keywords: Built environment; Eating behaviours; Fast food; Natural experiment; Neighbourhood