The Association between Fast Food Outlets and Overweight in Adolescents Is Confounded by Neighbourhood Deprivation: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Millennium Cohort Study

Mark A. Green, Matthew Hobbs, Ding Ding, Michael Widener, John Murray, Lindsey Reece and Alex Singleton
Additional contact information
Mark A. Green: Geographic Data Science Lab, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZT, UK
Matthew Hobbs: GeoHealth Laboratory, University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Ding Ding: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Michael Widener: Department of Geography & Planning, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada
John Murray: Geographic Data Science Lab, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZT, UK
Lindsey Reece: School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Alex Singleton: Geographic Data Science Lab, Department of Geography & Planning, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZT, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: The aim of our study is to utilise longitudinal data to explore if the association between the retail fast food environment and overweight in adolescents is confounded by neighbourhood deprivation. Data from the Millennium Cohort Study for England were obtained for waves 5 (ages 11/12; 2011/12; n = 13,469) and 6 (ages 14/15; 2014/15; n = 11,884). Our outcome variable was overweight/obesity defined using age and sex-specific International Obesity Task Force cut points. Individuals were linked, based on their residential location, to data on the density of fast food outlets and neighbourhood deprivation. Structural Equation Models were used to model associations and test for observed confounding. A small positive association was initially detected between fast food outlets and overweight (e.g., at age 11/12, Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.0006, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) = 1.0002–1.0009). Following adjusting for the confounding role of neighbourhood deprivation, this association was non-significant. Individuals who resided in the most deprived neighbourhoods had higher odds of overweight than individuals in the least deprived neighbourhoods (e.g., at age 11/12 OR = 1.95, 95% CIs = 1.64–2.32). Neighbourhood deprivation was also positively associated to the density of fast food outlets (at age 11/12 Incidence Rate Ratio = 3.03, 95% CIs = 2.80–3.28).

Keywords: fast food; neighbourhood; deprivation; overweight; obesity; adolescence; confounding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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