Greater neighborhood access to fast-food outlets linked to lower bone mass in infants

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-10/iof-gna101315.php

Public Release: 13-Oct-2015
Greater neighborhood access to fast-food outlets linked to lower bone mass in infants
Results of the first study investigating the effects of neighborhood food environment on bone mass from birth to 6 years of age also finds that greater neighborhood access to healthy specialty stores is linked to higher bone mass in young children
International Osteoporosis Foundation

New research from the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton in the UK indicates that neighbourhood exposure to fast food outlets is potentially linked to poorer bone development in early childhood.

The study looked at the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of 1107 children at birth and at four and/or six years of age and compared the data to the number of supermarkets, healthy specialty stores and fast food outlets within a child's neighbourhood.

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After adjustments for other variables, they found that greater access to fast food outlets was associated with lower BMD and BMC in newborns. Associations between fast food outlet exposure and bone measures at four or six years of age were not significant. In contrast, increasing neighbourhood exposure to healthy specialty stores, such as greengrocers, was associated with higher BMD at four and six years of age.

A healthy diet with adequate intake of protein, calcium, vitamin D, fruits and vegetables is known to have a positive influence on bone health during early childhood, and indeed throughout life.

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