We know that the two pillars of well-being, in our civilizations of surplus and inactivity, are better diet and the practice of physical exercise. With two brakes: the proliferation of fast food and the difficulty of exercising at home or outside. An English study shows that the proximity of a sports facility is essential … but that the distance from a fast food restaurant is not a problem for those who like this type of food.
It is a beautiful and large study that has just published, in its January issue, the public health journal of The Lancet, the famous scientific journal, The Lancet Public Health, which proposed to study the influence of the gastronomic and sporting environment on obesity. We know that diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders – among others – are greatly influenced by weight and inactivity.
Recent studies show that around 21% of UK adults eat take-home food every week, and around 18% regularly use gyms. Figures that perfectly justify this study
Between 2006 and 2010, over 500,000 people, aged 40-69, in 21 different locations across the UK were screened. Weight and especially waist circumference.
Fast Foods: No Matter Where They Are
Surprise: contrary to what we thought, the presence of Fast-Foods nearby (less than 500 meters from the home compared to 2000 meters for the control population) has very little influence on neighborhood obesity, especially among the women.
One of the conclusions is that the craving for this type of food is such that distance is not a brake, since other studies have shown that this type of food is a factor in general obesity, proximity or not.
Physical exercise confirms its importance.
On the other hand, we know the protective role of physical activity. And in this type of prevention, proximity is a significant factor. Compared to people without nearby facilities, those who had at least six exercise rooms near their homes had a significantly smaller waist circumference and a lower fat index.
The results of this study provide evidence for the hypothesis that easy access to nearby sports facilities and possibly reduced access to fast food could help reduce overweight and obesity.
It is an essential public health message to be meditated on in our town halls …
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