The results of the American "Fast-food habits, weight gain, and insulin resistance (the CARDIA study)", published in the "The Lancet" in January 2005 clearly demonstrate the adverse health effects of fast-food consumption.
The authors investigated the association between reported fast-food habits and changes in bodyweight and insulin resistance (the main factor responsible for the development of type 2 diabetes) over a 15-year period in more than three thousand Americans aged 18-30.
It turned out that those who consumed fast food over twice a week "gained" additional 4-5 kg compared to those who did it less than once a week. In addition, the prevalence of insulin resistance was twice higher in the former group than in the latter.
The researchers followed 3,031 African-American and white young adults ages 18 to 30 at the start of the study for 15 years, monitoring their fast-food habits, weight and insulin resistance.
Taking into account television viewing, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking and other lifestyle factors, the team determined that increases in body weight and insulin resistance from fast-food intake seemed to be largely independent of those factors.
References: Mark A Pereira, Alex I Kartashov, Cara B Ebbeling, Linda Van Horn, Martha L Slattery, David R Jacobs Jr, David S Ludwig. c: 15-year prospective analysis. Lancet 2005; 365: 36-42.
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