Buffets, exercise lack linked to obesity

ST. LOUIS, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- People in Middle America may have larger middles from frequent buffet and cafeteria eating and perceived barriers to physical activity, U.S. researchers said.

"It's not that people don't want to get physical activity or eat healthy foods, but we've made it difficult in many communities," senior author Ross Brownson of the Washington University in St. Louis said in a statement. "People in small towns spend a great deal of time in cars, and they also may not have easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables in their markets."

From July to September 2005, 1,258 randomly selected adults in 12 rural communities in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee completed telephone surveys about their food choices and physical activity. All eligible households were within 2 miles of a community walking trail, the researchers said.

The researchers asked about their access to produce and low-fat foods, frequency and location of food shopping and frequency and location of restaurant dining. They also were asked how they perceived their community for physical activity.

The study, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, found that respondents who ate out often -- especially at buffets, cafeterias and fast food restaurants -- were more likely to be obese. The study found that those with a high school education or less reported limited access to fruits and vegetables and were more likely to shop at convenience stores.