Fast-Food Consumption Frequency, Residential Proximity to Fast-Food Restaurants and Colorectal Cancer Incidence: A Clinical Case–Control Study

While the nutritional composition of fast food and consumption of highly processed or fast-food meals have been evaluated for colorectal cancer (CRC), the impact of fast-food consumption from fast-food restaurants and the residential proximity to fast-food outlets on the risk of CRC is unknown. This ongoing clinical case-control study includes 302 consented participants who self-reported their fast-food consumption while residential proximities to fast-food outlets at enrollment and retrospectively in the year 2015 were determined. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of CRC incidence associated with fast-food consumption frequency and residential proximity to fast-food outlets after adjusting for confounders. The data reflects that increased fast-food consumption was significantly associated with higher CRC incidence (aOR:2.25; 95%CI:1.16–3.97; p-value:0.01). Nonetheless, associations between CRC incidence and residential proximity to fast-food outlets were found to be statistically non-significant at enrollment (aOR:0.75; 95%CI:0.40–1.41; p-value:0.37) or in the year 2015 (aOR:0.57; 95%CI:0.26–1.26; p-value:0.16). Thus, while daily to weekly consumption of fast food may increase the risk of CRC, residing closer to a fast-food outlet was not associated with CRC incidence. Further epidemiologic studies are warranted to validate these findings, which together may help inform future dietary recommendations.