Previous research on the relationship
between television viewing and body
weight has shown positive associations
cross sectionally and prospectively in both
children9-12 and adults,13-16 although two
studies in children did not find such an
effect.17"18 We are unaware of any studies
that have specifically looked at fast food
consumption and obesity. However, two
studies of dietary correlates of obesity pro-vide suggestive data in that frequency of
consumption of two commonly eaten fast
foods (i.e., French fries'9 and hot dogs20)
was found to be associated with obesity
and/or weight gain