Fast Food and Obesity in NYC Neighborhoods: Summary
Young Epidemiology Scholars Competion - National Finalist - Seth Levine - Great Neck South High School
Advisor: Dr. Carol Hersh
GOAL: Examine the relationship between fast food density (FFD), fast food per capita (FFPC), ethnicity, poverty and rates of obesity and overweight in twenty-two (22) neighborhoods in New York City (NYC).
HYPOTHESIS: Neighborhoods with high FFD, high number (n) of FFPC and high poverty levels would have higher rates of obesity than neighborhoods with low FFD, low FFPC and low poverty levels.
As FFD, FFPC, Poverty increase => higher rates of obesity
As FFD, FFPC, Poverty decrease => lower rates of obesity
ABSTRACT:
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in America. Over 30 percent of adults nationwide are now classified as obese (2007). Environmental factors may contribute to the increasing prevalence of obesity. Over the last 20 years, America's dependence on fast food restaurants has grown; the US spends over $110 billion on fast food per year and the number of fast food restaurants exceeded 280,000 (2007)
Fast Food and Obesity in NYC Neighborhoods (A Statistical Approach) examines the relationship between obesity and fast food density, fast food per capita, ethnicity and poverty, in twenty-two neighborhoods in NYC.
A greater fraction of the residents are overweight and obese in neighborhoods that are predominately African American and have a high percent of individuals under the poverty level compared to neighborhoods that are predominantly white and have a lower percent of the population under the poverty level.
There was a greater fast food presence per capita in predominately African American neighborhoods compared to predominantly white neighborhoods.
The percent under poverty and percent African American are strong predictors for percent obesity and overweight; however, the inclusion of fast food per capita improves the predictive power of the model. Interestingly, fast food density (restaurants per square mile) was found to have NO correlation with obesity or overweight rates in the twenty-two NYC neighborhoods examined.
There is no simple solution for obesity, but a better understanding of the environmental factors that are correlated with high rates of obesity provides a stronger basis for rational intervention to control this debilitating epidemic.
----
Special thanks to Dr. Jack Levine, Arlene Levine, Evan, Barry, Diane
Special thanks to Dr. Hersh, Mrs. Kimmel, Mrs. Sorise, Mrs. Macriagne, Mr. Levitt, Coach Meyer, Mr. Motch, and all of the other friends, cousins, teachers and coaches that helped me along the way.
Young Epidemiology Scholars Competion - National Finalist - Seth Levine - Great Neck South High School
Advisor: Dr. Carol Hersh
GOAL: Examine the relationship between fast food density (FFD), fast food per capita (FFPC), ethnicity, poverty and rates of obesity and overweight in twenty-two (22) neighborhoods in New York City (NYC).
HYPOTHESIS: Neighborhoods with high FFD, high number (n) of FFPC and high poverty levels would have higher rates of obesity than neighborhoods with low FFD, low FFPC and low poverty levels.
As FFD, FFPC, Poverty increase => higher rates of obesity
As FFD, FFPC, Poverty decrease => lower rates of obesity
ABSTRACT:
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in America. Over 30 percent of adults nationwide are now classified as obese (2007). Environmental factors may contribute to the increasing prevalence of obesity. Over the last 20 years, America's dependence on fast food restaurants has grown; the US spends over $110 billion on fast food per year and the number of fast food restaurants exceeded 280,000 (2007)
Fast Food and Obesity in NYC Neighborhoods (A Statistical Approach) examines the relationship between obesity and fast food density, fast food per capita, ethnicity and poverty, in twenty-two neighborhoods in NYC.
A greater fraction of the residents are overweight and obese in neighborhoods that are predominately African American and have a high percent of individuals under the poverty level compared to neighborhoods that are predominantly white and have a lower percent of the population under the poverty level.
There was a greater fast food presence per capita in predominately African American neighborhoods compared to predominantly white neighborhoods.
The percent under poverty and percent African American are strong predictors for percent obesity and overweight; however, the inclusion of fast food per capita improves the predictive power of the model. Interestingly, fast food density (restaurants per square mile) was found to have NO correlation with obesity or overweight rates in the twenty-two NYC neighborhoods examined.
There is no simple solution for obesity, but a better understanding of the environmental factors that are correlated with high rates of obesity provides a stronger basis for rational intervention to control this debilitating epidemic.
----
Special thanks to Dr. Jack Levine, Arlene Levine, Evan, Barry, Diane
Special thanks to Dr. Hersh, Mrs. Kimmel, Mrs. Sorise, Mrs. Macriagne, Mr. Levitt, Coach Meyer, Mr. Motch, and all of the other friends, cousins, teachers and coaches that helped me along the way.
No comments:
Post a Comment