A new report, The Link Between Local Food Environments and Obesity and Diabetes, just published by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA), has summarised and confirmed the results of the 2005 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

It shows a clear link between High Retail Food Environment Index (RFEI) scores and the amount of both obesity and Type 2 diabetes in a neighbourhood.

The RFEI is made by dividing the total number of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores by the total number of grocery stores and local produce vendors in the area, so reflects the proportion of people eating diets with less fruit and vegetables.

The average Californian has easy access to four times as many fast-food restaurants and convenience stores as grocery stores and produce vendors.

Obesity rates are 20 percent higher for Californians with RFEIs of five and above compared to those with RFEIs below three.

Diabetes rates are 23 percent higher for Californians with RFEIs of five and above compared to those with RFEIs below three.

Nearly half of Californians have three times as many fast food outlets as fresh food outlets near them.

Pretty shocking eh?

Although some people have contested results like this in the past, it seems fairly clear to me that high carbohydrate, high trans-fats diets are a sure-fire recipe for putting on weight. and developing diabetes.
DESIGNED FOR DISEASE: The Link Between Local Food Environments and Obesity and Diabetes. The California Center for Public Health Advocacy, PolicyLink and The UCLA Center for Health Policy. 2008.