Youngsters whose schools are located within a half mile of fast food restaurants eat fewer fruits and vegetables, drink more soda and are more likely to be obese than students at other schools, according to a study of more than 500,000 adolescents at middle and high schools in California.
The study took weight and dietary information from a statewide school survey between 2002 and 2005 and cross referenced it with a database of top fast food chains located near each school. It also found that students whose schools were located near-fast food restaurants eat fewer servings of vegetables and fruits, and drink far more soda than students at schools not located near fast-food restaurants.