Fast food 'can be life-threatening'
Risk of death from heart
disease can go up by 80%, says study
By MELISSA PANG
WHILE warnings about eating fast food are common, a study
has shown just how
life-threatening it can be for Singaporeans. The study, which specifically tracked Chinese-Singaporeans, found eating Western fast food more than four times a week
can
increase the risk of dying
from heart disease by up to 80 per
cent. It also found that those who
go for fast food more than twice
a week are 30 per cent more
likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The joint study - by
researchers from the National University
of Singapore (NUS) Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health
and the University of Minnesota -
is the first of its kind that
looks at the impact of fast food on
Asians.
Principal investigator, NUS'
Associate Professor Koh Woon Puay, said that while the
findings may not be surprising, there
is still a lot of interest from
the West.
"There is very good
evidence to show the effect of a
Western diet and its cardiovascular risks
on an Asian country that used to
eat traditionally," she said.
About 53,000 were surveyed to look at the association of
Western fast food with coronary heart
disease mortality in
Chinese-Singaporeans, and 43,000 for incidence
of type 2 diabetes.
Researchers analysed data from men and women aged 45 to 74 who enrolled in the
Singapore Chinese Health Study between 1993 and 1998.
A detailed survey was done on the diet and health of these
participants - specifically Hokkiens and Cantonese for genetic
homogeneity.
They were asked about their
intake of six Western fast foods - hamburgers or cheeseburgers, french fries, pizza, ham and
other sandwiches, deep-fried chicken and hot dogs.
Follow-up interviews were
conducted between July 1999 and October 2004 to find out if they had been diagnosed with diabetes.
Researchers also checked the Registry of Births and Deaths to find out participants' cause of
death, up to the end of 2009.
An analysis of the results revealed that those who ate fast food at least, twice a week
had a 27 per cent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who
did not.
They also had a 56 per cent greater risk of dying of a coronary heart disease.
Of the 811 who ate fast food
least four times a week, 17 died heart disease.
This group was nearly 80 cent
more at risk of dying of heart disease compared to those who did not eat fast food.
Factors like age, sex, body mass index, smoking status
educational level that could affect a person's likelihood of
getting diabetes or dying of heart disease were adjusted to have minimal
effect, said Prof Koh.
At a press briefing yesterday, she also presented the
findings a separate study that found a combination of healthy lifestyle habits can significantly lower a
person's risk of dying of
cardiovascular diseases. The research, involving about 50,000 recruits also from the
Singapore Chinese Health Study, gave the thumbs up to a diet
in vegetables, fruit and soy; exercise; light to moderate alcohol
consumption; sleeping six to eight
hours; not smoking; and a
healthy body mass index.
Both studies were published
the American Heart Association journal, Circulation.
In Singapore, heart diseases
account for about a quarter of deaths
while diabetes is the 10th most common cause of death. The Health Promotion Board recommends eating fast food
no more than twice a week.
It is also pushing for good
habits from a young age through
initiatives to provide healthier meals in childcare centres as well
as primary and secondary schools.
melpang@sph.com.sg
RISK OF DEATH BY HEART DISEASE
|
|
Frequency of Western-style fast food intake
|
Increase in risk compared to less
than once a month
|
1 - 3 times a month
|
3%
|
Once a week
|
19%
|
2 or 3 times a week
|
49%
|
4 or more times a week
|
79%
|
Source: Associate
Professor Koh Woon Puay _ ST GRAPHICS
