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Fast food, other food choices and body mass index in teenagers in the United Kingdom (ALSPAC): a structural equation modelling approach

International Journal of Obesity volume 35, pages 1325–1330 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the association between the consumption of fast food (FF) and body mass index (BMI) of teenagers in a large UK birth cohort.

Methods:

A structural equation modelling (SEM) approach was chosen to allow direct statistical testing of a theoretical model. SEM is a combination of confirmatory factor and path analysis, which allows for the inclusion of latent (unmeasured) variables. This approach was used to build two models: the effect of FF outlet visits and food choices and the effect of FF exposure on consumption and BMI.

Results:

A total of 3620 participants had data for height and weight from the age 13 clinic and the frequency of FF outlet visits, and so were included in these analyses. This SEM model of food choices showed that increased frequency of eating at FF outlets is positively associated with higher consumption of unhealthy foods (β=0.29, P<0.001) and negatively associated with the consumption of healthy foods (β=−1.02, P<0.001). The SEM model of FF exposure and BMI showed that higher exposure to FF increases the frequency of visits to FF outlets (β=0.61, P<0.001), which is associated with higher body mass index standard deviation score (BMISDS; β=0.08, P<0.001). Deprivation was the largest contributing variable to the exposure (β=9.2, P<0.001).

Conclusions:

The teenagers who ate at FF restaurants consumed more unhealthy foods and were more likely to have higher BMISDS than those teenagers who did not eat frequently at FF restaurants. Teenagers who were exposed to more takeaway foods at home ate more frequently at FF restaurants and eating at FF restaurants was also associated with lower intakes of vegetables and raw fruit in this cohort.

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Acknowledgements

We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part in this study, the midwives for their help in recruiting and the whole ALSPAC team, which include interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers, managers, receptionists and nurses. The UK Medical Research Council (grant ref: 74882), The Wellcome Trust (grant ref: 076467) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. LKF was funded by ESRC/MRC studentship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    L K Fraser & G P Clarke

  2. Division of Biostatistics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    K L Edwards

  3. Nutritional Epidemiology Group, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    J E Cade

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  1. L K Fraser
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  2. K L Edwards
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  3. J E Cade
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  4. G P Clarke
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Correspondence to L K Fraser.

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Fraser, L., Edwards, K., Cade, J. et al. Fast food, other food choices and body mass index in teenagers in the United Kingdom (ALSPAC): a structural equation modelling approach. Int J Obes 35, 1325–1330 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.120

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