In contrast, increasing neighbourhood exposure to healthy speciality stores, such as greengrocers, was associated with higher BMD at four and six years of age.
Greater access to fast food outlets was associated with lower BMD and BMC in newborns.
Living in a neighbourhood where there is greater access to fast food outlets may be linked to poorer bone development in early childhood, according to a new UK study. The study at the University of Southampton in the UK, looked at the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of 1,107 children at birth and at four and/or six years of age. The data was compared to the number of supermarkets, healthy speciality stores and fast food outlets within a child's neighbourhood.
After adjustments for other variables, researchers 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 speciality stores, such as greengrocers, was associated with higher BMD at four and six years of age.
Source - DNA
