Therefore from the results of this study alone it would be quite easy to conclude that access to fast food is responsible for increased obesity. Other evidence may however dispute this conclusion though.

A very recent study by Morland & Evenson found examined the relationship between the presence of different types of food establishments and a number of different diet-related health outcomes, including obesity, in the southern region of the U.S. The study utilized data collected from almost 1300 participants and found that the prevalence of obesity was associated with distance to a fast food restaurant, although not in the direction expected: "each mile closer to a fast food restaurant was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity" (493). This may help to explain the comment made by Schlosser that "in Italy and Spain...spending on fast food is relatively low." Although in these countries there remains a high density of...
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