Preview

Junk Food Prevalence and Its Physical and Mental Implications

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
572 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Junk Food Prevalence and Its Physical and Mental Implications
Name: Ali Hussain Al-Attas
Date: 15/10/2011
Cause & Effect

Junk Food Prevalence and its Physical and Mental Implications
Introduction:
A study conducted lately, showed that junk food affects the function and structure of the brain which could change peoples’ behavior, especially that of children. By definition, junk food is pre-prepared food that has low nutritional value and is high in calories. The aim of this paper is to explore the causes of junk food prevalence and its physical and mental effects.

Paragraph 1: Causes: Abundance and Advertisements:
Junk food has become very popular among people owing to its accessibility, taste, cost and strong media advertising. It’s difficult to find a district, or even a street, without a fast-food restaurant. Statistics indicate that the number of these restaurants tripled in the last decade. An example of advertisement is putting surprises, free toys, with every “happy meal” to attract children. The rise of the number of fast-food restaurant leads to an increase in its physical and mental hazards.

Paragraph 2: Effects: Physical Implications:
Junk food physical hazards of can be broadly categorized into two groups. The first is the immediate effect, namely, obesity that presents health risks. In 2005, a study conducted by NIH found higher rates of obesity in high schools with nearby fast-food restaurants. According to a study carried out on general education students in Saudi Arabia, the rate of obesity among those who frequently eat fast food is 38.20%, while the rate is 19.43% among those eating only one meal a week. Another study revealed that about one out of four (or 23.6%) of Saudi adults are classified as obese. The second group is the distal effects. Being overweight and can increase the chances of getting chronic illnesses. The OSG pointed out that simply becoming obese, with over 30 BMI, raises the likelihood of developing many diseases including heart attack, stroke and few types of cancer. A

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Essay Kids Obesity

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Junk food sold in school has brought risks in the childrens health, especially for students susceptible to obesity. Recent studies have shown that Children whose parents are overweight or obese are at higher risk for becoming obese themselve, thats the reason why (Allen,2010). Over the past few decades, the obesity rates for children has tripled, the reason for that is because children find it much easier to get junk food than vegetables, fruits and lowfat snacks and the first one are cheaper and more accessible.…

    • 601 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The second problem brought by junk food is health disease. An American study has contributed to the thesis that junk food in schools leads to adolescent’s obesity (Datar & Nicosia, 2012). The main reason is that junk food is easy to access around school either from vending machines, canteens, tuck…

    • 1706 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Rapid growth of fast food industry is also a culprit for the present state of peril facing of many children. Not only fast food restaurants are opened up constantly and widely, but manufacturers also make sure junk food is available in any supermarket or convenience store, even in streets through the vending machines. Therefore, junk food is easy to access than any other types of healthy foods and people buy them though they are not intended to.…

    • 255 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Fast Food and Obesity

    • 1832 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Obesity is a medical disorder in which body fat has gathered to such an extent that it may have a negative effect on the overall health condition of a person. People are classified as obese when their Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement is greater than thirty Kg / m2, or their weight is twenty percent greater than normal weight (Obesity, WebMD). America has blamed genetics and fast food as the cause of overweight and obesity for many years, the fact is that it is not a "cause" of obesity. Fast food is high in calories and typically comes in large portions, but a person could eat fast food on a regular basis and not become obese. In some cases, people can lose weight while eating fast food if they burn more calories than they consume (Fast Food and Obesity, eMedTV). In regards, the fast food industry, such as McDonalds has had a huge impact on America, as well as the world, and has become a part of our everyday life.…

    • 1832 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ltd, 2012) 2) Poor concentration (Jared, 2008) a High amount of oil and fat containing in junk food (Jared, 2008) i Human body needs to spend high amount of blood and enzymes as its found that this food difficult to digest (Jared, 2008) ii Children feels suffers because of reduced concentration and they will also feels drowsy (Jared, 2008) III Conclusion Impact on energy level, weight gain and illness and bad effect in education progress at school as low focus by taking a lot of junk food seem to be the causes of the bad effects of junk food on Malaysian children.…

    • 3966 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    effect of junk food

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Eating junk food can have a major negative impact on one's health. Though many people enjoy eating junk food and think it tastes great, the health risk and consequences can be very effective, and can range from everything to low energy levels to weight gain and illness. The term "junk food" encompasses a fairly broad category of food, but it typically refers to foods that are relatively high in caloric content, but low in nutritional value. Junk food is often high in sugar, salt, and fat, particularly saturated fat. It is often heavily processed and prepackaged, making it easy to prepare and eat.…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Junk food is dangerous to your health. A high intake of junk food can lead to stomach disorders and can also affect the heart. There are now over 400,000 deaths per year caused by illnesses related to being overweight, which means that obesity has now overtaken smoking for the leading preventable cause of death.…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    junk food

    • 8062 Words
    • 33 Pages

    Junk food is a derisive slang term for food that is of little nutritional value and often high in fat, sugar, salt, and calorie.…

    • 8062 Words
    • 33 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Junk Food Nation

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Obesity in children and Adolescents represents one of the most frustrating and difficult disease to treat. Furthermore, one in five children in the United States is now over weight according to National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The author of this article looks at the obesity in children and what is causing it, and how we can find a solution to it. Although this article offers well-supported arguments, it also has weakness. It is clearly known that the driving force for junk food industries is the large amount of money they infuse during Bush and Cheney campaign in 2005. The large amounts of money these companies give out during campaign enable them to be successful in continuing to be producing their junk food to the society. The consumption of these junk foods results in obesity in children in our society. Some people argue that schools are to be blamed for giving children free access to sugary foods, snacks and fast food. In other words, some people say children are obese not because of what they eat, but because of lack of exercise. This makes companies like McDonald’s, Pepsi, Coke and others to hand out funding fitness centers that would make children to move.…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Junk Food Research Papaer

    • 2253 Words
    • 6 Pages

    I remember when I was going up, I couldn't wait go outside, ride my bike or just play with friends until the evening sets and the street light came on. These days, children have so many distractions and reasons not to go outside and run around. With video games, cellphones and internet, no reason why the numbers are high in child obesity. The article that I read in by Datar, A., & Nicosia, N. (2012). Junk food in schools and childhood obesity. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 31(2), 312–337. doi:10.1002/pam.21602 [EBSCOhost], that speaks on child obesity and how it has ruined so many young lives. It too can be tied in with so many children eating junk food and fast food. There are many reasons that American children suffer from obesity, like not eating healthy meals at home or school, no one to prepare healthy meals for them or simply, love to eat fast food and junk food. Despite limited evidence, there is a growing concern that junk food in schools has contributed to the childhood obesity epidemic. The BMI (body mass index) is a collected weight and height measurements of children who are overweight by eating fast food and junk food. They can run down to the local corner store and grab chips and a coke for a meal which can lead to unhealthy results later. Studies have shown, that junk foods can lead to certain illness and diseases…

    • 2253 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Affect of Junk Food

    • 6649 Words
    • 27 Pages

    The term “junk food” is used to describe food that is low in nutritional value, with a comparatively high caloric value. Many people try to avoid or limit such food in their diets, out of concerns that it is not healthy, despite the fact that numerous food manufacturers produce a range of products which could be considered junk. Nutritionists, doctors, and other health advocates often work to educate people about junk food, encouraging them to eat well balanced diets which contain a high proportion of healthy foods.…

    • 6649 Words
    • 27 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Eating Junk Foods

    • 599 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Junk food plays a major role in the obesity epidemic. By the year 2050, the rate of obesity in the U.S. is expected to reach 42 percent, according to researchers at Harvard University. Children who eat fast food as a regular part of their diets consume more fat, carbohydrates and processed sugar and less fiber than those who do not eat fast food regularly. Junk food in these children's diets accounts for 187 extra calories per day, leading to 6 additional pounds of weight gain per year. Obesity increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many other chronic health conditions.…

    • 599 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Junk Food

    • 295 Words
    • 1 Page

    In the age of fast food, obesity is the most common problem. Junk foods are loaded with lots of fat, sugar, calories, salt and carbs and therefore not all healthy. Eating excessive amount of junk food leads to obesity and malnutrition. It also cuts down the energy levels of the body.…

    • 295 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Fast Food

    • 310 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The health risks that come from eating too much junk food is life-threatening because it contributes to obesity and high salt intake. Obesity come from eating junk food that bought of then and calories if it is not work off, then it can grow to become obese. People are fooled by the quantity and they tend to eat more. According to the New Zealand Health Survey showed the percentage of the population who were obese rising from 16.6% in males and 20.6% in females in 1997 to 24.8% in males and 26.0% in females in 2007. This is also part of a global problem, with obesity prevalence rising in a number of nations. Obesity is not the only risks, because junk food contains a large amount of sodium that could lead to high blood pressure, sodium is essential for the body but in moderate amounts. One of the man causes for sexual dysfunctions; not just does it lead to weigh gain but it also brings about biochemical changes in the body which in turn affect the female…

    • 310 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    proposal

    • 649 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Junk food is food that is high in calories and low nutrients. Nowadays most people prefer fast food, though it’s unhealthy and causes endless health problems. And the reason behind this is that this food is convenient, delicious and cheap. People these days are more addicted to fast food and avoid healthier food because they can get it within minutes without spending too much time on it .Even though ,it can be tempting at times .it’s well known that fast food is unhealthy, this is why limiting the amount of fast food that you eat is a must. However, it can be eaten once in a while but not too often. Even though it can be tempting at times. This essay shows that fast food is harmful to our health. I first sit out to explain the reasons why people prefer fast food, and then I go on to discuss the side effects of eating junk food and suggest some solutions for this issue.…

    • 649 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays

Related Topics