Mens Health

 

The relationship between fast food and blood pressure

Australian researchers analyzed data from a national sample of 1,896 adults, ages 26 to 36, to see what effect eating takeaway (aka takeout or fast food) food had on blood pressure and glucose, insulin, and lipid levels.

Higher levels of glucose and insulin are associated with higher risk of diabetes.

Compared to women who only ate takeaway food once per week, those who ate it twice a week or more often had higher fasting glucose levels and showed signs of insulin resistance. They also had statistically nonsignificant increases in fasting insulin levels.

Men who ate takeaway food twice a week or more had higher fasting insulin levels and signs of insulin resistance, but the differences were not statistically significant from men who ate takeaway food less frequently.

After adjusting for waist circumference, the effect of frequent takeaway food was lessened. It was hard to tell if the fast food itself or if the weight gain associated with fast food and lack of exercise was responsible for the findings.