Proximity to Fast Food Is a Factor in Stroke Risk

How many places serve fast food in your neighborhood? A study presented at the International Stroke Conference in San Diego on Thursday suggests that the number of places that serve fast food: i.e. rapid food service,  takeout business, no or limited wait staff, and payment before delivery of food, in close proximity to where you live could increase your risk of stroke by as much as 13 percent.

Fast food has already been blamed for obesity and heart disease, and now stroke risk is added to the list. Study author Dr. Lewis B. Morgenstern, a professor of neurology at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, said it isn’t known if the link is causal, but if you live in a neighborhood with a high fast food restaurant concentration, there is increased risk.
Morgenstern’s team studied stroke data in Nueces County, Texas from January 2000 through June 2003. There were 1,247 cases of ischemic stroke during this time. More than 700,000 strokes occur in the United States each year and most are ischemic, when blood vessels become clogged.

The researchers found there were 262 fast food restaurants in the county, and used the 64 U.S. Census Bureau tracts to determine the number of fast food businesses in each. They ranked the neighborhoods from most to least, with the neighborhoods in the top 25 having 33 restaurants per tract, and the lowest had 12. The study adjusted for socioeconomic status and demographics and the analysis determined that there was a 13 percent increased risk of stroke in the top 25 percent compared to the lowest 25 percent. There were about 5,000 people in each census tract.

Morgenstern believes that anyone moving to a new locale should pay attention to the neighborhood, including the number of stores that sell fresh produce and the number of fast food restaurants.

Beth Johnson a spokeswoman for the National Restaurant Associated said that the concern was unsupported by the findings. According to Johnson the article is seriously flawed and by its own admission shows no correlation between dining at chain restaurants and the incidence of stroke. Further it says nothing about the eating and exercise habits of the individuals involved.

Morgenstern admitted that he did not know if any of the stroke victims in the study area had ever eaten a hamburger, but he added, “If this association is causal, the findings have large public health importance due to the high prevalence of fast food restaurants.”