Stress & Obesity: Partners in Disease
Medscape Family Medicine. Charles P. Vega, MD
Brunner, EJ: Chandola, T, Marmot, MG.
Prospective Effect of Job Strain on Central Obesity in the Whitehall II Study.
Am J Epidemiology, 2007, 165: 828-837.

"Other societal trends can affect obesity as well. In the United States, more individuals are choosing to eat at restaurants than at home, and the easiest and least expensive option in dining is often preferred. Such choices can increase the risk of developing obesity. Ecological research from 21 developed countries found that girls who ate fast food at least twice a week were more likely to become obese compared to those who ate fast food less freuently. Unfortunately, the assimilataion of other cultures into American society may not help improve the obesity problem. In one study, while regularly eating at fast food restaurants increased the risk of overweight in adults and children in Mexican-American families by a factor of 2.2, the risk of overweight associated with eating at buffet-style restuarants was slightly worse."

What this means:

If eating fast food just 2 times a week can significantly increase the risk for obesity, the implications for people who eat out more often are worse. This shows how vitally important it is to plan your meals ahead and to prepare as much of your own food as possible. Many bariatric surgery patients have a history of eating fast food and gaining weight easily. In order to keep the weight you lose off, it is important that you work to keep fast food a very limited part of your lifestyle.

This and more can be learned within the Transformations Programs.