The growth of fast food restaurants has been linked to an increase in diabetes

Growing studies suggest that the built-in environment in the neighborhood and its inhabitants are linked to the risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

New American study and publication by researchers at the Grossman School of Medicine at New York State University JAMA Network Open, Argues that living in neighborhoods with more junk food restaurants regardless of region in the United States is linked to further risks of developing type 2 diabetes.

Research suggests that having access to more grocery stores may also protect against the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, especially in suburban and rural areas.

The study in question is based on data associated with more than 4 million American veterans; The researchers also counted junk food restaurants and grocery stores in relation to other places to find food. Experts say this is the first step in examining the relationship between four different types of neighborhoods (densely built, poorly constructed, suburban and rural) and on a hyper‌local and scale across the United States.

“Much of the work involved in examining the dietary environment and its relationship to chronic disease has taken place in very small or specific locations,” said Rania Kanchi, a researcher in the Department of Population Health at the University of New York. Longon and lead author of the study. “Our study is national and has enabled us to identify the types of communities in which people live, classify their food environment and observe what happens to them over time. Our ensemble size has made it possible to establish geographical generalizations that other studies have not been able to achieve.”

Multi-year study

Veterans followed for five and a half years. During this period, 13.2% of the population suffers from type 2 diabetes. Men are more likely to develop the disease than women (13.6 and 8.2%). Non-Hispanic whites (12.9%), non-white Asians and Hispanics (12.8%), non-Hispanic adults are also at greater risk (16.9%) compared to the Pacific Islands (15%) and First Nations. (14.2%) people, including Alaskan natives.

In addition, 14.3% of veterans living in densely populated urban environments developed type 2 diabetes, while the proportion was lower among those living in suburban and small towns (12.6%).

The researchers concluded that the impact of the food environment on the incidence of type 2 diabetes varies with the urban density of communities, but does not vary according to different regions of the United States.

The more we learn about the relationship between the food environment and chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, the more policy makers can take action by improving the availability of healthy food options sold in restaurants and outlets. Food products or good food choices for residents can be promoted by creating better zoning laws, ”said Lorna Thorpe, professor and co-author of the study.

One of the limitations of the study, according to its authors, is that this work may not be fully generalized to a non-combatant population, as the latter are more likely to be men and suffer from health problems. Economic instability, than the civilian population. They are also at higher risk of developing disabilities, obesity and other chronic conditions.

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