Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Effect of Junk Food

Powerful Essays
912 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Effect of Junk Food
unk food is a derisive slang term for food that is of little nutritional value and often high in fat,sugar, salt, and calories.[1][2][3] It is widely believed that the term was coined by Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, in 1972.[4]
Junk foods typically contain high levels of calories from sugar or fat with little protein, vitamins orminerals. Foods commonly considered junk foods include salted snack foods, gum, candy, sweet desserts, fried fast food, and sugary carbonated beverages. [5] Many foods such ashamburgers, pizza, and tacos can be considered either healthy or junk food depending on their ingredients and preparation methods with the more highly processed items usually falling under the junk food category. [6] What is and is not junk food can also depend on the person 's class and social status, with wealthier people tending to have a broader definition while lower-income consumers may see fewer foods as junk food, especially certain ethnic foods.
Despite being labeled as "junk" consuming such foods usually does not pose any immediate health concerns and is generally safe when integrated into a well balanced diet. [7] [8] Contents [hide] * 1 Health effects * 2 Taxation * 3 See also * 4 References * 5 External links |
-------------------------------------------------
[edit]Health effects
A study by Paul Johnson and Paul Kenny at the Scripps Research Institute in 2008 suggested that junk food consumption alters brain activity in a manner similar to addictive drugs like cocaine or heroin.[9] After many weeks with unlimited access to junk food, the pleasure centers of rat brains became desensitized, requiring more food for pleasure. After the junk food was taken away and replaced with a healthy diet, the rats starved for two weeks instead of eating nutritious fare.[10] A 2007 British Journal of Nutrition study found that female rats who eat junk food during pregnancy increased the likelihood of unhealthy eating habits in their offspring.[11]
A report published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology suggests that babies of mothers with a high-sugar and high-fat diet while pregnant are more prone to junk food themselves. The study was conducted on rats and suggests that pups "whose mothers eat excessive amounts of high-fat, high-sugar junk foods when pregnant or breastfeeding are likely to have a greater preference for these foods later in life."[12]
-------------------------------------------------
[edit]Taxation
In an attempt to reduce saturated fat consumption, from December 2011 – November 2012 Denmark had introduced the first fat-food tax in the world by imposing a surcharge on all foods (including natural ingredients) that contain more than 2.3 percent saturated fat.[13]Hungary has also imposed a tax on packaged foods that contain unhealthy concentrations, such as beverages containing more than 20 mg of caffeine per 100 ml.[14]
-------------------------------------------------
[edit]See also | Food portal | * Comfort food * Glutamic acid (flavor), common flavoring compounds and their synthetic versions, which may be added to some processed foods, to boost their savoriness * Health food, foods that tend to be nutrient rich, and may be eaten for their potential benefits to health * List of food additives
-------------------------------------------------
[edit]References 1. ^ http://www.wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn[dead link] 2. ^ Glossary 3. ^ junk food - Google Search 4. ^ O 'Neill, Brendon (November 30, 2006). "Is this what you call junk food?". BBC News. Retrieved June 29, 2010. 5. ^ Larsen, Joeanne; MS, RD, LDhttp://www.dietitian.com/junkfood.html 6. ^ Linda Larrowe Bergersen: What Makes a Food Junk? 7. ^ What Is Junk Food? (with pictures) 8. ^ Junk-Food Facts 9. ^ Johnson, Paul M.; Kenny, Paul J. (2010). "Addiction-like reward dysfunction and compulsive eating in obese rats: Role for dopamine D2 receptors". Nature Neuroscience 13 (5): 635–41. doi:10.1038/nn.2519. PMC 2947358.PMID 20348917. 10. ^ Goodwin, Jenifer. Junk Food 'Addiction ' May Be Real.Business Week. March 29, 2010.[dead link] 11. ^ Craving for junk food 'inherited ' Mothers who eat junk food during pregnancy may be condemning their children to crave the same diet, according to animal tests. BBC News. 14 August 2007. 12. ^ The children are also more prone to type 2 diabetes, raised cholesterol, and high blood fat. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/01/health/webmd/main4222324.shtml "Moms Eat Junk Food, Kids Get Fat". CBS News. 2008-01-06. Retrieved 2011-04-04. 13. ^ Clemens Bomsdorf. "Denmark Scraps Much-Maligned 'Fat Tax ' After a Year". Retrieved 2012-11-14. 14. ^ "Welcoming the age of disease prevention". December 17, 2011.
-------------------------------------------------
[edit]External links * International Junk and Snack Food Review * Junk Food, Marketing, and Behavior * The 10 Worst Foods of 2010 * Junk food facts and its effects
Categories:
* Snack foods * Fast food * Criticism of fast food * Nutrition * Dysphemisms
-------------------------------------------------
Navigation menu * Create account * Log in * Article * Talk * Read * Edit * View history
-------------------------------------------------
Top of Form

Bottom of Form * Main page * Contents * Featured content * Current events * Random article * Donate to Wikipedia
Interaction
* Help * About Wikipedia * Community portal * Recent changes * Contact Wikipedia
Toolbox
Print/export
Languages
* العربية * Български * Català * Cebuano * Dansk * Deutsch * Español * Français * 한국어 * हिन्दी * Bahasa Indonesia * Italiano * 日本語 * Polski * Português * Русский * Suomi * Svenska * Tagalog * 粵語 * 中文 * Edit links * This page was last modified on 25 March 2013 at 01:49. * Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use andPrivacy Policy.
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. * Contact us

References: 9. ^ Johnson, Paul M.; Kenny, Paul J. (2010). "Addiction-like reward dysfunction and compulsive eating in obese rats: Role for dopamine D2 receptors". Nature Neuroscience 13 (5): 635–41. doi:10.1038/nn.2519. PMC 2947358.PMID 20348917. 10. ^ Goodwin, Jenifer. Junk Food 'Addiction ' May Be Real.Business Week. March 29, 2010.[dead link] 11 12. ^ The children are also more prone to type 2 diabetes, raised cholesterol, and high blood fat. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/01/health/webmd/main4222324.shtml "Moms Eat Junk Food, Kids Get Fat". CBS News. 2008-01-06. Retrieved 2011-04-04. 14. ^ "Welcoming the age of disease prevention". December 17, 2011.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    There is science behind the creation of junk food. Moss researched for over four years and found out that the food industries want “to get people hooked on foods that are convenient and inexpensive” (Moss pg 477). The most addictive ingredients in America are sugar, salt, and…

    • 135 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Another study conducted by researchers at both the University of Texas in Austin (UT) and the Oregon Research Institute found that prolonged consumption of junk foods results in reduced activity in the striatum, a section of the forebrain that registers reward. In other words, just like with illicit drugs, those addicted to junk food require ever-increasing amounts of it to get the same "high."…

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Junk Food Satire

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The packaging on those TV dinners, are in every colour you could imagine, the extravagant print, and those catchy words like “New!” intrigue you to purchase those calorie filled, heart clogging foods. Junk food is a guilty pleasure because everyone is aware of its negative effects on our body. Everyone can generally say that healthier foods are unattractive and cliché. They aren’t as “appetizing” as those deep fried or frozen dinners. But does anyone really know what goes into fast food?…

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Thirdly, as Bittman points out, the reasons for people going for junk food are not confined to money, time, and skills of preparing food. The author states that it has to do with the habit-forming appeal of the hyper-processed foods and the engineering behind the production (Bittman 1). Most of these organizations spend massive amounts in advertising to convince people to buy their products. Furthermore, overconsumption of these foods is said to trigger addiction-like neuro-addictive responses in vital body organs like the brain. The implication is that more and more people yearn for these foods because of their addictive nature. The results of such cravings are not different from other substance addictions that cost the economy billions to…

    • 127 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is controversy over whether or not people should stop eating junk food. In the article “New Study Reveals Junk Food Good for You,” Billy Bunting believe some types of sugary, fatty junk foods “are better for you than so-called healthy foods” (Bunting). Throughout the article, he accounts evidences to verify his argument that eating large doses of junk food is good and a key to a long and healthy life. In “New Study Reveals Junk Food Good for You,” Bunting accounts studies, action points, and seven “tips to enjoy eating junk food so that its benefits can be fully realized” (Bunting).…

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Dr, William Jacobs says “From the days of “reefer madness,” that old anti-drug movie, the word “addiction” has conjured images of out-of-control behavior. But today, cutting edge science is shedding new light on addiction and its connection to chemical changes in the brain. If those changes can lead to compulsive behavior, some scientists wonder if fatty foods and drugs just might have more in common” (Stone, 2006) While most consumers would say what you eat is your choice. It’s a matter of personal responsibility what you eat, but several academics and lawyers are arguing you’re far less free to choose what’s on your plate than you realize. While each group is made up of professionals who are notable, it is matter of persuading the audience to which solution is…

    • 2310 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Exploratory Paper

    • 1225 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Judith, Warner."Junking Junk Food." New York Times Magazine 25 Nov. 2010. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 July 2011.…

    • 1225 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Food portions in America's restaurants have doubled or tripled over the last 20 years, a key factor that is contributing to a potentially devastating increase in obesity among children and adults.” (Larger Portion Sizes Contribute to U.S. Obesity Problem.). Portion size is not the only aspect of this problem; what food is currently made from and the way it is processed is also a factor. Processed foods have shown to be very addictive, a University of Michigan study shows “that foods high in sodium, sugar, or fat are likely to trigger food addiction and overeating, due to the way they act on the brain’s reward system. They found that highly processed foods were more likely to have the same effect on the brain as hard drugs, compared to non-processed foods like wheat, fish, and other “boring” and “healthy” foods.” (Bushak, Lecia). The combination of oversized portions and highly addictive additives in food has led to an epidemic of obesity in America, leaving people without a chance to learn how to properly diet and live a healthy…

    • 790 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people are wondering why they are getting so sick, but they have not realized what causes the sickness. There is a great number of people including young children, adult and young adults, and the elders who are being affected by consuming junk food every day. Junk food is very dangerous to human’s health, and not many people are aware of that. Research shows that people living in the United State are more affected by eating junk food than many people in other countries. It is very crucial to know the side effects of junk food although junk food may taste very delicious. People need to be knowledgeable about what they eat every day. Therefore, knowing what junk food can cause to the human’s health is very important. There are mainly three…

    • 1031 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Junk food contains large amounts of fat that over time accumulate in your body and cause rapid weight gain. The more fat is stored in your body, the higher risk you have for developing heart problems that could lead to a heart attack. Heart disease develops from plaque build-up in the arteries. With that build up, your heart can’t pump blood through them and your arteries become blocked, most times leading to a heart attack. Along with heart disease, increased fat can slow down cognitive performance. This means that you will be tired and have trouble concentrating and your brain will not be receiving the right amount of oxygen needed to remain focused.…

    • 943 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Taxing Junk Food Essay

    • 921 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Junk food can be known as different types of food, candy, and even sugary drinks. Some foods that can be considered ‘junk food’ are candies, chips, gum, and salted snacks are just a few examples of ‘junk food’. Pizza, hamburgers and tacos could be considered healthy or junk food. Sweetened drinks can be considered ‘junk food’ because they have a lot of sugar. Some drinks that are under the ‘junk food’ category are sports drinks, sodas, frappes, and milkshakes. These are just some of the many unhealthy drinks.…

    • 921 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Obesity is a major public health issue in North America. Trying to distinguish between overeating and drug dependence as addictions is difficult as there are many parallels between them (Barry et al. 2009). Until recently, overeating was not seen as an addictive behavior, but in recent journal findings, it has been proven to arouse the same reinforcing and reward effects as substance abuse. When animal models become addicted to some types of food, leading to binge eating, certain behavioral components of addiction are shown to have similar neurochemical changes, which also occur with addictive…

    • 4160 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Determinants of Health

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Junk food contains to much sugar or to much salt which can negatively affect our health in short or long term…

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Many Americans continuously eat junk food and see no problem with it. It is fast, cheap, and delicious so how could it be bad for you. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact is most fast food companies make their food cheap and long lasting. How they accomplish this is by adding many doses of preservatives to their food. This can have bad effects on your health. Continuous consumption of these foods could cause strokes, heart attacks, and diabetes. In order to avoid these health problems it is suggested that you even out your diet to consist of a varity of different food groups. It is ok to have junk food every once in a while but in order to maintain your health you must also eat some fruits and vegetables. By evening out your diet your body will be able to pull out all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.…

    • 933 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bingeing on high-calorie foods can be as addictive as cocaine or nicotine, and could cause compulsive eating and obesity. The researchers showed that the pleasure-center in rats’ brains were over stimulated from the fast food similar to a drug addict's cocaine binge. Eventually, the pleasure centers became so overloaded that rats needed more and more food to feel normal (Ahmed, Kenny, Koob, and Markou, 2002). Science thus far suggests that certain foods can create an addictive process, with underlying physiology similar to that seen with classic addictive substances. If cocaine is considered an illegal drug and is strictly regulated by the government, then junk food should also be regulated in order to protect a person’s free will, rational judgment, and personal freedom of choice from being manipulated. At the same time, both the government and consumers should question the junk food industry’s practices and start to inquiry whether these industries intentionally manipulate their ingredients for their own benefit.…

    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics