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Choice and availability of takeaway and restaurant food is not related to the prevalence of adult obesity in rural communities in Australia

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 703–710 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To establish whether choice and availability of takeaway and restaurant food consumption are associated with increased obesity.

DESIGN:

Crossroads Undiagnosed Disease Study: a cross-sectional study undertaken between June 2001 and March 2003.

SETTING:

A regional centre and six shire capitals of variables size in rural Victoria, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS:

In total, 1454 residents of randomly selected households.

MEASUREMENTS:

Obesity (by body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference), weekly recreational activity, self-reported frequency of takeaway consumption, number of local takeaway and restaurant food outlets in the area.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of obesity ranged from 25.5–30.8% and was higher than the general Australian population among both men and women. Those in the regional centre were less likely than those in large and small shire capitals to participate in recreational activity of 150 min or more (39.7 vs 48.4%, 46.0% respectively, P=0.023) and yet reported better access to facilities and amenities for physical activity. Recreational activity of ≥150 min/week was associated with 0.75 (0.58–0.97) fold less risk of obesity. BMI was unrelated to takeaway consumption. Waist circumference was significantly lower among those eating no takeaways, but similar whether takeaways were consumed <1/month or ≥1/week. Increased takeaway consumption was associated with increased consumption of higher fat preparations of dairy and meat products. Availability of takeaway outlets and restaurants was unrelated to obesity.

CONCLUSION:

The obesity epidemic exists among those without significant consumption of or availability to takeaway foods. In a setting of easy availability of food, the obesity epidemic relates strongly to reduced physical activity, but not to consumption of takeaway food.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Crossroads team for their work and the local communities for their support. DS conceived and designed the study and analysed the data. AM and SE managed the study. All authors interpreted the data and wrote the paper. DS is guarantor.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand

    D Simmons

  2. Department of Rural Health, University of Melbourne, Shepparton, Victoria, Australia

    D Simmons & A McKenzie

  3. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, North Shields, UK

    S Eaton

  4. Ruakura Statistics Group, AgResearch, Ruakura Research Centre, East St, Hamilton, New Zealand

    N Cox

  5. Department of Rural Health, University of Melbourne, Shepperton, Victoria, Australia

    M A Khan

  6. International Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    J Shaw & P Zimmet

Authors
  1. D Simmons
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  2. A McKenzie
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  3. S Eaton
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  4. N Cox
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  5. M A Khan
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  6. J Shaw
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  7. P Zimmet
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D Simmons.

Additional information

Source of funding: The International Diabetes Institute and the University of Melbourne. The Department of Rural Health is funded under the Department of Health and Ageing Rural Health programme.

Competing interests: None.

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Simmons, D., McKenzie, A., Eaton, S. et al. Choice and availability of takeaway and restaurant food is not related to the prevalence of adult obesity in rural communities in Australia. Int J Obes 29, 703–710 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802941

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802941

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