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Cause and Effect of Fast Food: the Impact on Health and Society

Table of contents, causes of fast food consumption, effects on physical well-being, cultural and societal impact, economic considerations, promoting healthier lifestyles, conclusion: balancing convenience and health.

• Ludwig, D. S., Peterson, K. E., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2001). Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis. The Lancet, 357(9255), 505-508.
• Malik, V. S., Pan, A., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2013). Sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain in children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 98(4), 1084-1102.
• Story, M., Kaphingst, K. M., Robinson-O'Brien, R., & Glanz, K. (2008). Creating healthy food and eating environments: policy and environmental approaches. Annual Review of Public Health, 29, 253-272.
• Stuckler, D., McKee, M., Ebrahim, S., & Basu, S. (2012). Manufacturing epidemics: the role of global producers in increased consumption of unhealthy commodities including processed foods, alcohol, and tobacco. PLOS Medicine, 9(6), e1001235.
• World Health Organization. (2016). Report of the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity. WHO Press.

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Essay on Effects of Fast Food on Health

Students are often asked to write an essay on Effects of Fast Food on Health in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Effects of Fast Food on Health

Introduction.

Fast food is popular because it’s convenient and tasty. But, it’s often unhealthy.

Nutritional Content

Fast food is high in calories, salt, and unhealthy fats. It lacks important nutrients like vitamins and fiber.

Obesity Risk

Eating too much fast food can lead to weight gain. This increases the risk of obesity, a serious health problem.

Heart Problems

Fast food’s high fat and salt content can contribute to heart problems, like high blood pressure and heart disease.

While fast food is convenient, it’s important to eat it in moderation due to its negative health effects.

250 Words Essay on Effects of Fast Food on Health

Fast food, a staple in today’s hurried society, is often blamed for a variety of health issues. Its impact on health is multifaceted, affecting not only physical well-being but also mental health.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Fast foods are typically high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and sodium while being low in essential nutrients. These nutritional imbalances can lead to deficiencies, which manifest as fatigue, poor concentration, and weakened immune system.

Obesity and Related Diseases

The high calorie content of fast food contributes to obesity, a global health crisis. Obesity, in turn, increases the risk of serious diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Mental Health Implications

Recent research suggests a link between fast food consumption and mental health issues. High sugar and fat content may contribute to depression, while the lack of essential nutrients can exacerbate anxiety and mood disorders.

While fast food offers convenience, its health effects are far-reaching. As consumers, we must make informed choices about our dietary habits, balancing convenience with health. As a society, we must advocate for healthier fast food options and improved nutritional education.

500 Words Essay on Effects of Fast Food on Health

Fast food has become a staple in the diet of many, primarily due to its convenience and accessibility. However, this shift in dietary habits has profound implications on health.

The Nutritional Profile of Fast Food

Fast food is notorious for its high caloric content, saturated and trans fats, sodium, and sugar, while being low in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This skewed nutritional profile contributes to the onset of various health issues.

Obesity and Fast Food

One of the most visible effects of fast food consumption is the rise in obesity rates. The high energy density of fast food, combined with its palatability, promotes overeating. This chronic energy surplus leads to weight gain and obesity. Obesity, in turn, is a risk factor for numerous health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Fast Food and Cardiovascular Health

Fast food’s high sodium and saturated fat content contribute to elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which are precursors to heart disease. Furthermore, trans fats found in fast food have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, as they raise bad cholesterol levels and lower good cholesterol levels.

Impact on Digestive and Metabolic Health

Fast food’s low fiber content affects digestive health, leading to conditions like constipation and diverticular disease. Also, the high sugar content can lead to insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown a direct correlation between the frequency of fast food consumption and the risk of developing these metabolic disorders.

Effects on Mental Health

Emerging research suggests that fast food may also affect mental health. Diets high in fat and sugar can cause alterations in brain chemistry that lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, the blood sugar spikes and crashes associated with high-sugar fast foods can cause mood swings and impair cognitive function.

Fast food, while convenient, has a detrimental impact on health, contributing to obesity, heart disease, digestive issues, metabolic disorders, and potentially, mental health problems. It is crucial to raise awareness about these health risks and promote healthier dietary choices among the public. The fast-food industry also has a role to play in this, by reformulating their products to be healthier and offering a wider range of nutritious options. The effects of fast food on health are a pressing issue that requires collective action from individuals, communities, and policymakers alike.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Nutritious Food
• Essay on Disadvantages of Fast Food
• Essay on Healthy and Unhealthy

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An opinion essay about fast food.

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Do the preparation exercise first. Then read the text and do the other exercises.

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Is fast food popular in your country? Do you think it causes health problems or any other kinds of problems?

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128 Brilliant Fast Food Essay Topics & Examples

The phenomenon of comfort food that takes a short time to prepare and tastes good has become extremely popular in the world, with chains such as McDonalds having an enormous global presence. However, the adverse health effects associated with the emergence of fast food have led to its nickname, junk food.

There is an obesity epidemic throughout the world, but people do not adopt healthy eating habits even as more and more issues surface. As such, you should cover some key points to write an outstanding essay on one or more fast food essay topics and show your understanding of the topic.

In this article we will reveal some tips and ideas for writing, as well as research questions on fast food.

👍 Tips for Essay Writing on Fast Food

🏆 best fast food topics & essay examples, ✅ simple & easy fast food essay topics, 💡 most interesting fast food topics to write about, ❓ fast food questions for research paper.

Your fast food essay should discuss the advantages as well as disadvantages of fast food compared to traditional healthy food.

Food items that contain excessive fat or were not good for one’s health have existed for a long time, but were never prominent enough to impact the population significantly.

Fast food options became popular because they pioneered the ideas of food being easily accessible, quick to make, and tasty nevertheless.

Compared to the usual cooking experience people went through at home as well as outdoors eating places, the new phenomenon constituted a revolution.

Fast food became popular with the population due to its significant benefits compared to other methods.

However, the disadvantages of excessive consumption of junk food emerged eventually, leading to the release of various legislation governing the dangers of a poor diet.

With its emphasis on fat and sugars, fast food can lead to a variety of issues, examples including uncontrolled weight gain, heart disease, dental issues, shortness of breath, and other adverse outcomes.

Obesity is now an issue that affects many people in the United States as well as other countries. It can also be difficult to stop consuming junk food because of its instant gratification properties.

Due to its concentration on taste over nutrition, healthy food can feel bland and uninteresting by comparison, leading the person to switch back.

You should discuss potential solutions to the issues created by fast food, but the issue is complex and complicated by the conditions of some of the people affected.

In Australia, some aboriginal people live too far from large cities to receive regular shipments of healthy food that will not spoil, so they have to rely on fast food that is packed with preservatives.

As a result, many become obese and malnourished at the same time. There is no easy solution to the issue, and as such, most options have to be theoretical or supported by evidence. The essay format is generally not suitable for in-depth discussions of topics related to the resolution of these issues.

Here are some additional tips that will make your essay truly outstanding:

• Try to rely on facts that are supported by research and evidence rather than the popular perception.
• The concept of fast food extends beyond chains such as McDonalds to ready-made meals and various snacks in stores.
• Remember to follow usual essay writing guidelines such as an academic tone, the separation of section with titles, and the use of an introductions and fast food essay conclusions.

Here, at IvyPanda you can find lots of fast food essay titles and other useful samples that will help you create an excellent paper! Check them below!

• Fast Food Industry: Arguments for and Against For instance, those who believe that fast food industry is beneficial to them and other members of the society will expect the findings of this research to be in support of their beliefs.
• Fast Food vs. Home Cooking: Lifestyle and Traditions The good thing with this business is that the food was from natural products hence healthy, a fact that has since changed Many people are very busy for the better part of the day and […]
• Fast Food in Campus: Advantages and Disadvantages On the other hand, a classmate mentions that fast foods lead to obesity among university students who eat from fast-food restaurants.
• Survey to Study the Relationship Between Fast Food Consumption and Obesity The survey aims to analyze if there is any connection between consumption of fast food and obesity. The study aims to ascertain the relationship between fast food consumption and obesity.
• Fast Food Restaurants: Classification Most restaurants offer these services at their premises, whereby customers come, have their meals and leave for example the Deising’s chain of restaurants, while others especially the well-established ones offer take-out services and delivery services […]
• Fast Food Effects on Human Health The phenomenon results in the ideological perspectives of increased obesity and the emergence of lifestyle diseases. The popularity and consumption rate of fast-food restaurants is one of the trending issues in cities and towns.
• The Negative Consequences of Employing High School Students in Fast Food Restaurants In addition, high school students should be advised that education and their careers are more important as compared to working at fast food restaurants.
• The Fast Food Industry Lots of people claim that the growth of the rate of obese people correlates with the growth of fast food chains in the region.
• McDonald’s Corporation: Analyzing Fast Food Industry A glance of the profit margins of the major players in the US industry will provide a more clear perception of the fast food industry’s success in 2009 in global perspective: Key Competitors Profits 2009 […]
• Motivational Issues in the Fast Food Sector Fast food refers to a type of cuisine produced in mass and marketed by some eateries, presentation stands, and service establishments for fast and effective production and delivery.
• Fritter’s Fast Food Restaurants: Overview Very fast and inexpensive to manufacture, Fritters can find their customers both in restaurants and kiosks, and in pre-prepared form.
• Social Media Marketing Plan: Subway Fast Food Attract The main objective of this digital marketing plan is to attract the younger customers’ market through the Subway’s website and a twitter fun page in order to increase the customer traffic in its stores.
• The Consequences of Fast Food The most evident effect of fast food is obesity among others and these effects are what will be considered as the basis of discouraging the intake of fast food while encouraging other healthier options.
• Influencing Consumer Behavior: the changing image of ‘fast food’ Some of the factors that consumers may be influenced with include the cost, what their friends and family members say, where the restaurant is located, the duration the meal takes, and by how the consumers […]
• Wendy’s Fast Food Restaurant The design has the potential to elaborate on the cause of failures inherent in the establishment and possess the capacity to make recommendations on combating the challenges.
• The Reasons Behind the Popularity of Fast Food in the Context of the Lebanese Market Nowadays, in Beirut, the variety of traditional dishes which can be prepared quickly and served as fast food is amazing, from the kebab, to the falafel; most dishes are represented.
• Employment Relations in Fast Food Restaurants It is therefore imperative to ensure the comfort of employees and for good employment relations to be built and extended there are certain advantages and legal constitutions that have to be established for the sake […]
• The Film “Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!”: How the Fast Food Industry Interacts With Its Customers Another obvious cause and effect relationship portrayed in the film concerns the rise in the threat of diseases such as diabetes as the effect of the food choices that McDonald’s provides to its customers.
• Global Challenges Faced By Fast Food Companies For instance the price strategy is usually determined by a number of factors such as the number of competitors in the market, the availability and costs of raw materials and the existent product substitutes in […]
• Impact of Fast Food on Human Body Firstly, it is the economics of fast food fast food is the cheapest food on the market in terms of a calorie per dollar.
• ”The Ritual of Fast Food” by Margaret Visser At the pace of modern life, people often do not have time to dine fully, and then fast food comes to the rescue.
• Healthy Fast Food Restaurant The project committee has ensured that this project has a number of strengths as it is introduced in this competitive market.
• Impacts of Fast Food on Childhood Eating Habits The author’s claim that lack of nutritional information on fast food packaging is a major cause of obesity among children and teenagers is not true.
• Causes and Effects of Fast Food: Reputation for Unhealthy Eating By setting this price to a low value, fast food companies can exclude traditional restaurants from the selection, improve throughput, and increase their brand equity.
• The Culture of Fast Food Consumption Thesis Statement: The purchase of fast food is largely driven by the convenience of purchase, enjoyment of taste, and pricing. However, it is worth sorting out the reasons for consuming fast food and the main […]
• Fast Food and Gender: Is There a Relation? The study was to observe the gender that formed the majority of the customer base in respect to fast foods. In this case, it was important to select a predetermined restaurant that specializes in fast […]
• Fast Food, Obesity, Depression, and Other Issues However, in busy communities, fast foods are increasingly being the preferred choice of food because of their price and convenience and that is why they are commonly served in many hotels, cafes and even some […]
• Fast Food Ban Necessity in Schools Schools should not offer fast foods because they lead to the development of bad habits, long-time health complications and influence students to spend money unnecessarily.
• The economical aspects and different perspectives for fast food industry in Canada Figure 1: The leading fast-food companies in Canada Source: Reiter Slcfred stated that Mcdinalds had more than 31000 outlets all over the world, among them 5% restaurants or 1550 outlets are in Canada and highest […]
• The Fast-Food Industry and Legal Accountability for Obesity The principle of least harm in ethics is closely associated with the fast food industry; this is mainly because of the basic fact that fast food increases chances of obesity to its consumers.
• Fast Food’s Main Detrimental Effects This state of affairs is perfectly explainable, because during the course of recent decades, the effects of a lengthened consumption of fast food on one’s health remained the subject of a number of heated public […]
• The Jungle and Fast Food Nation Though both books talk about the food industry and the ills that plague it, it is important to establish that, Eric Schlosser’s aim of writing Fast Food Nation was to make the public know the […]
• The Fast Food Mass Production Problem Mass production was planned as a phenomenon to ensure the supply of food in sufficient quantities to cover the loss of production in the sale and, at the same time, meet the economic needs of […]
• The Environment of Fast Food Chains The basic research question is based upon the fact as what is actual scenario of HK fast food industry and what marketing strategies are being used commonly by the industry?
• Fast Food Industry in the US This paper will discuss the fast food industry in the US with an emphasis on the positive as well as the negative impacts it has on American economy.
• Improvements of Supply Chain Processes in the Fast Food Industry: Subway The purposes of the research are to analyze the service delivery stage of the internal supply chain process typical of the Subway restaurants located in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; identify drawbacks in these areas […]
• HRM in the Fast Food Industry: US, Germany, and Australia It should be mentioned that the term human-resource relations refers to the programs that an organization puts in place in order to ensure that the employees receive the benefits that are guaranteed by legislation.
• Fast Foods More Harm Than Good The rest of the life of such a child is upsetting as the child is ridiculed in and out of school, through his/her adolescence, and even in college.
• Increased Nutrition Regulations on Fast Food Restaurants Some critics believe that federal policy to increase the cost of healthy food has led to the increase in consumption of the cheaper alternative i.e.fast food.
• American Fast Food in Foreign Countries On the one hand, fast food chains like McDonald’s are at risk of pushing local cafes away, leading the latter to bankruptcy.
• Fast Food: What We Eat by Eric Schlosser The industry became the cause of multiple economic trends and shifted the behaviors of consumers. In conclusion, the fast-food industry has had a great influence on economics, society, and politics.
• The Effects of Fast Food Consumption on Obesity Afterward, Lane et al.combined homogeneous conditions and conducted a meta-analysis to determine the effect of fast food consumption on their development.
• Fast Food Restaurant: Emergency Procedure It is essential to lay out a clear communication plan to ensure the team maintains functional capacity during a hurricane threat.
• Drive-Thru Dreams and Fast Food Nation by Adam Chandler In the introduction to his book, Drive-Thru Dreams: A Journey through the Heart of America’s Fast-Food Kingdom, Adam Chandler uses pathos as the central appeal to convince the audience in the strength of his reasoning.
• Slow and Fast Food Values by Alice Waters Uniformity is a fast-food value that causes people to lose their individuality because of the pressure to conform. Awareness is a fundamental value in the current fast-food world.
• McDonald’s in the International Fast Food Market In her article, Visard discusses the current position of McDonald’s in the international fast food market and the food chain’s most recent attempts to adapt its resource spending and product positioning strategies during the ongoing […]
• Employee Retention & Staff Turnover in Fast Food Industry Whilst the recruitment strategy errors include the lack of such documents as A Set of Competencies and The Perfect Candidate, the lack of recruitment specialists, and the provision of insufficient information to the candidate. It […]
• Customer Loyalty in Fast Food Industry Under Current Economic Crisis The objective of this research is to evaluate different customer loyalty programs offered by companies operating in the UK Fast Food Industry to induce more sales and assess their effectiveness amid of the current economic […]
• Promoting Fast Food Ingredient Awareness The result of this progress has been the spread of the concept of fast food, meals for those who are busy and do not want to burden themselves with cooking.
• The Fast Food Restaurant Market of Canada More than 100 various franchising offers Growing demand for fast food restaurant franchising Wide variety of demanded franchises with diverse prices and distinct revenue potential Growing possibilities to utilize disposable income, which increases proportionally […]
• Ideology of Fast Food Industry Development Demonstrating the parallel that can be drawn between fast food and the ideology values such as the fast pace life and consumerism, it is important to stress that several values resulted from the formation and […]
• The Fast Food Culture in Saudi Arabia The increased consumption of fast food is an issue that has gripped the attention of healthcare providers worldwide. The high incidence of diabetes is perhaps the most notable effect of the excessive consumption of fast […]
• Obesity Prevalence and Fast Food Restaurant Prevalence The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between obesity prevalence and fast food restaurant prevalence in the United States.
• Regulation of the Fast Food Industry: Review The rapid growth of the fast food industry has led to the high consumption of fast food by many people. The extraordinary growth of the fast food industry has been driven by fundamental changes in […]
• Fast Food: What Is Really in It? Fast food restaurants use TBHQ to eliminate oxidation of fats and oils in order to prolong the expiry date of their foods.
• “The Bitter Truth About Fast Food” by Schlosser While such a regulation is hard to follow, it has been proved that some natural ingredients used in the manufacturing of flavors pose more health risks than artificial ingredients.
• Biotechnology and Animal Welfare: How Genetically Modified Chicken Serves the Demand in Fast Food Chains Beef was the most often used meat for the restaurants due to its containing in burgers, however, in 2020, the tendency started to move in the direction of chicken consumption.
• Fast Food Nation in the “Omnivore’s Dilemma” by M. Pollan The author’s main purpose in writing this text could be summarized as a plea to food-conscious people that there is more to what they do not know about the food they eat.
• Fast Food Industry: Five Forces of Success The possible threat of market saturation by new sellers inflowing the market. The strength of rivalry or competition in the food industry as franked by existing markets is a pronouncement that helps in the determination […]
• Marketing Case B: Freddy Favors Fast Food and Convenience for College Students Problem Objective Opinion Areas of Strength Areas of Concern Recommendation Conclusion The service and products that are to be offered in a food joint for college students is a problem, as it would require […]
• Branding of Fast Food Industry: Sound and Strategic Brand According to Thomson and Rampton the brand image should be able to provide customers with a degree of excellence and comfort, making them outshine from the rest of the group that is they provide a […]
• Media Plan of a Fast Food Chain Subway Food The uniqueness and importance of this media for Subway Foods is that the sender of the advertising message, who can be regarded as the seller, does not know in advance what he will receive in […]
• The Use of Fast Food Meals in the United State This study focused to investigate the western theory change of lifestyles and it intended to examine the quality of the fast-food meals in the United States industries.
• Environmental Analysis for a New Fast Food Chain in Australia The viability of the restaurant will depend, in a large part, on the stability of the host government as well as the strength of the host country’s political system.
• Fast Food Empire: ”Behind the Counter” by Schlosser Schlosser underlines that the fast food problem in society, culture, and identity is presenting all Americans with profound dilemmas- that are badly in need of clarification and resolution of real life values and ideals Schlosser […]
• Opportunism in Fast Food Chains: Schlosser’s ‘Behind the Counter’ The fast-food chains employ the most disadvantaged members of the American society and provide only training on basic job skills such as getting to work on time.
• Fast Food Epidemic: The Dark Side of American Meal Various reports and studies signify the trends of huge marketing campaigns of fast food chains and the significant correlation this has with fast food consumption.
• Technology in the British Fast Food Industry The use of modern smartphones and apps is an emerging trend that will continue to dictate the performance of business organizations.
• Fast Food Restaurants and Buyers’ Responsibility Fast food and chain restaurants sell their products, but they do not force people to buy them. Thus, people are to be responsible for their behavior and understand the danger of unhealthy food.
• Fast Food, Fat Profits: Obesity in America With the current trends in the consumption of foods, statistics show that, by the year 2015, a third of America will be obese.
• The Work at “Checkers” Fast Food Restaurant The position of a cook is much different, as they are the person who carries out the duties and supports the infrastructure of the restaurant.
• Fast Food History and Global Presence The popularity of fast-food restaurants at the time could be associated with the increased numbers of people moving to the city centers during the Great Depression.
• “Fast Food Nation” Movie by Richard Linklater This is a story of how one of the most favorite things in the country is destroying people’s health and undermining the belief that the world is a friendly and kind place where people love […]
• Obesity in Hispanic Adolescents and Fast Food Most of these, however, describe the relationship existing between the prevalence of diabetes in the population and the consumption of fast foods.
• Green Management in Fast Food Restaurants The corporations have to acquire large amounts of capital to operate efficiently and survive in the market because of the high demand of social responsibility in the food industry.
• Fast Food Consumption in New Jersey (United States) The survey aimed at evaluating the consumption of fast foods amongst the residents of New Jersey in the USA. Other objectives that were considered during the study included determination of whether the habit contributed to […]
• Factors Contributing to Fast Food Consumption in UAE Nevertheless, the transformation from homemade food to fast food has been so severe and widespread that people have become addicted to fast food in the UAE.
• The Fast Food Danger Awareness Among the Young People However, it is worrying that many people in this society are not aware of the dangers that this industry poses to young people.
• Blue Springs Fast Food Store vs. Blue Gardens Restaurant Analysis The lighting is moderated to give the facility a unique ambiance, and the color of the walls is also very attractive.
• Fast Food War in Singapore: The Stiff Competition and Fight for Customers In this case, the market conditions will allow the firm to choose product attributes that counter the products of their competitors.
• Should Fast Food Qualify As “Food”? Nowadays, it became a commonplace practice among many people to suggest that fast food cannot be considered areal.’ This, of course, implies that the consumption of fast food can hardly be considered beneficial to the […]
• Fast Food Industry and Its Impacts The experiment made in the film shows how consuming of the fast food influences the human body, presents a visual demonstration of the processes happening in our inside organs under the influence of chemicals contained […]
• The Practice of Fast Food in the United States This survey concluded that fast food consumption entails a large intake of junk foods as well as a reduction in the intake of healthy foods.
• Analysis of the Documentary Fast Food, Fat Profits This is one of the issues that can be distinguished. This is one of the limitations that can be singled out.
• Obesity and Fast Food In fact, a larger proportion of the gains in the body mass arise from the escalating promotional activities carried out by the fast-food producing companies such as McDonalds.
• An Analysis of Marketing Strategies of Local vs. International Brands in the Fast Food Sector This comes as no surprise, considering that the UK is one of the world’s largest economies in the world, has one of Europe’s highest populations and is the largest consumer of fast food in the […]
• Challenges Inherent in Repositioning a Fast Food Chain Much money has to be spent during the repositioning process, and, in a period of financial crisis, as is the current situation, it is very important to come up with some cost-effective strategies to succeed […]
• The Fast-food Industry in Russia For example, the legislation guaranteed the right of workers to organize themselves in labour unions, strike and even challenge the decisions that are made by the management The Russian federation labour laws are a combination […]
• An Analysis of Fast Freeze Foods Ltd This paper focuses on the successes of his management in managing the performance of the company to ensure success in such a turbulent industry as the company is operating.
• Fast Food Drive-throughs In this respect, the drive-through services are aimed at reducing the throughput time and serving a maximum number of clients in the minimum time compared to other similar services.s such, it is necessary to compare […]
• Deli Depot Fast Food Restaurants Strategy Objectives To improve on the sales of the business hence increasing the profit margin To strategise on how to take over the market from other competitors To come up with a good team of employees […]
• Fast Food on Campus: When Affordable Meals Overshadow the Nutrition Issues Starting Positively Much to the credit of fast food and the companies producing it, there are also a number of positive aspects of providing fast food on the territory of campus.
• The Fast Food Chains “Five Guys” in the USA Five Guys is one of the fastest growing fast food chains in the USA and it is now expanding overseas. One of the reasons for such a success is the thoughtful philosophy of the fast […]
• “The Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Search for a Perfect Meal in a Fast-Food World” by Michael Pollan The poultry helps in the spreading of manure as the chicken looks for larvae to eat. There are a lot of processed foods available in the market such that one is spoilt for choice.
• Comparison Between the Jungle and Fast Food Nation The writer of the book came up with suggestion on what ought to be done to eliminate the issue of minimal salaries among the citizens, hence, improve the living standards of the people in the […]
• The Nature of Fast Food Advertising in North American & Its Influence The nature of fast food advertising in North America is such that most fast food restaurants depict the advantages of eating fast food in a bid to entice the clients.
• Fast Food, Quick Problem Emergence, Rapid Addiction and Slow Recovery Process Because of the growing popularity of the fast food products, the concern for the effect that the fast food meals have on the population is growing increasingly big, yet the solutions for the problems and […]
• Fast Food and Hate Groups Harvey would lay his hands on the member’s heads to reconfirm them to the group after which the members would swear an oath to Harvey and Pendgrass that they will uphold the beliefs and convictions […]
• How Has the Fast Food Industry Changed From the 1950s to the Present?
• What Are the Causes of Popularity for Fast Food Restaurants?
• Are Fast Food and Junk Food Companies Ethically Responsible for Customers?
• What Are the Effects of Eating Fast Food?
• How Did Jollibee Build Its Position in the Philippine Fast Food Industry?
• What Are the Key Success Factors That Make the Fast Food Business Model Work?
• Does Consumer Preference Shift Away From Fast Food?
• What Constitutes Good Customer Service and Makes a Company in the Fast Food Industry Indispensable?
• How Are Fast Food Advertising and Childhood Obesity Related?
• What Makes Chipotle Unique Among Other Fast Food Chains?
• Can Apps Make Fast Food Even Faster?
• How Is Fast Food Changing American Food Culture?
• Why Isn’t Fast Food Cheaper Than Healthy Food?
• Are Fast Food Restaurants to Blame for Obesity?
• How Can Fitness Overcome Fast Food?
• What Marketing Strategies Use McDonald’s to Compete With Burger King in the Fast Food Industry?
• Why Are Fast Food Restaurants Popular?
• How Has Healthy Living Culture Brought About Changes in the Fast Food Industry?
• Does Fast Food Have a Possible Connection With Obesity?
• How Do Eco Activists Take Action Towards the Fast Food Industries?
• Should Fast Food Advertisements Be Banned?
• What Retention Strategies Can Be Used by Fast Food Companies?
• How Do Life Styles Affect the Consumption of Fast Food?
• Should Fast Food Companies Be Held Responsibility for Children’s Obesity?
• How Did McDonald’s Change Fast Food?
• Should Fast Food Only Be Sold to People Eighteen and Older?
• How Has the Recession Affected the Fast Food Sector?
• Should Schools Serve Fast Food Like Mcdonald’s?
• What Are Most Serious Negative Effects of Eating Fast Food?
• Why Should Americans Eat Less Fast Food?
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Nutrition: Causes and Effects of Fast Food

The modern world is a rapidly developing place in all spheres of humanity, and productions of fast food and access to take-out combined with little exercise have raised very many health concerns. It causes a change in human behavior, perception of self-image, and health risks that pose a serious threat.

There are several issues and causes of obesity in the US. The primary one is the culture and the changes regarding what is acceptable. Diabetes and heart disease are becoming predominant, as extra weight puts a strain on the heart, as well as the rest of the body. The whole nation is affected, as increased health risks put pressure on the healthcare system and affect the economical wellbeing of the country.

The individuals are suffering just as much the limited lifestyle causes people to eat faster and more in a single time. Thus people face the danger of significant life-shortening because of detrimental health effects. The long working hours, the availability of junk food, and the relaxation time that is characterized by being at home and little activity, all factors that contribute to people becoming overweight (Fedorak 51).

The fact that the United States is experiencing an increase in its influence over the world and pop culture adds to the negative effects on the domestic, as well as international populations. The economic development and its high level is another reason why people are forced to lead unhealthy lifestyles. The increase in pollution and industrialization, as well as the rise in technology and a lesser need to contribute physically, heighten the body’s inability to fight excess weight.

This sort of issue can be seen all over the world, as people are becoming more dependent on technology and the ease of avoiding activities (Wilk 7). Previously, people had to walk longer distances, contribute to farming and other active work, whereas today, office employment, internet and ability to get easy access to food or even order it without leaving the house, made society very inactive.

Some medical procedures, such as operations and minor adjustments to the physical appearance, have given people an easy way out, depleting will power and care for future health. The modern society has changed so much that even human genes have adjusted to the changes and make people predisposed to obesity-related diseases. Industrialization and changes in the pace of life have caused fast food to become a factor that affects people’s life as a result of social shifts.

The nutrition and the type of food that is consumed play a great role. Someone might be busy with work and eat only once a day. This becomes detrimental to health, as the body is “hit” with an extreme amount of food at one time. This makes the organism store a portion of proteins as fat so that they can be processed at a later time. Technology has modified foods making cooking times shorter and nutrition almost absent (Schlosser 6).

The picture would be very different if people exercised more and rationed their food, to be separated into three to five meals daily. The cultural view that being overweight is acceptable, and people are not openly degraded according to the way they look has also been a contributing factor. Baggy clothes, a mixing of cultures and styles have distanced people from previously valued norms. The most alarming part of the problem is that there is a significant increase in child obesity.

As parents become busier with their careers and developing businesses, children often resort to eating foods that are high in cholesterol, greater amounts of sugar, and refined carbohydrates. Fast food has had an enormous effect on the social life of children, and the cycle keeps being perpetuated. Children are at a much higher risk of obesity and heart strain, as their bodies are not as strong, and their metabolism is much weaker, compared to adults. Also, modern media and entertainment lead to the reinforcement of fast food culture.

Children are provided with vast entertainment means, from personal computers to laptops, play stations, portable devices, and even interactive consoles. Instead of playing soccer outside and going fishing, people can sit on a couch or stand in front of a TV and perform 2 to 3 moves in one spot.

The availability of fried foods in schools and the proximity of fast food restaurants allows for easy access. Even the prices are relatively low, as compared to restaurants and the service provided (Olfman 110). The easiness with which fast food and its consumption spreads, have led to a causal relationship between the food people consume and their daily lives.

The fact that there are several causes—social, cultural, and personal, leads to many negative effects in several aspects of life. People’s confidence and self-respect can exist independent of body image and future health risks. Even though obesity has become a concern, and people are becoming more aware of the problems and unnecessary risks, the culture leaves little choice.

The government and people of the United States must take steps and implement vital changes immediately, as it is better to prevent problems than to solve them. All the effects can be reversed if people make health their primary goal.

Works Cited

Fedorak, Shirley. Pop Culture: The Culture of Everyday Life , Toronto, Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2009. Print.

Olfman, Sharna. Childhood Lost: How American Culture is Failing Our Kids , Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005. Print.

Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal , New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.

Wilk, Richard. Fast Food/slow Food: The Cultural Economy of the Global Food System , Lanham, MD: Rowman Altamira, 2006. Print.

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Fast food consumption and overweight/obesity prevalence in students and its association with general and abdominal obesity

A. mohammadbeigi.

1 Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

A. ASGARIAN

2 Research Center for Air Pollutants, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom/Iran

3 Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

S. AFRASHTEH

4 Department of Public Health, Vice chancellor of Health, MSc of Epidemiology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

5 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

6 Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

Nowadays, the prevalence of both fast food consumption and overweight/obesity has been increased. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of fast food consumption and to assess its association with abdominal and general obesity. In an analytical cross-sectional study, 300 students were selected randomly from two largest universities in Qom, center of Iran, studying in medical and basic sciences fields in 2015. Data collection was conducted by a modified version of NELSON’s fast food questionnaire and anthropometric measures including Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) and Body Mass Index (BMI). Chi-square, independent t-test, and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. According to our results, 72.4% (67.4% in females vs 80.7% in males) had at least one type of fast food consumption in the recent month including sandwich 44.4%, pizza 39.7%, and fried chicken 13.8%, The obesity prevalence based on BMI and WHR was 21.3% (95% CI: 19.4, 23.2%) and 33.2% (95% CI: 0.7, 35.7), respectively. Fast food consumption was related to abdominal obesity as WHR (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.26), but was not related to general obesity as BMI (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.63, 1.52). The prevalence of fast food consumption and obesity/overweight in Iranian student is high. Fast food consumption was associated with abdominal obesity based WHR, but did not related to general obesity based on BMI.

In adolescent students, 72.4% and 34% have used at least one type of fast foods in recent month and in recent week.

The obesity prevalence based on BMI and WHR was 21.3 % (18.2% in females vs 26.3% in males) and 33.2% (40.1% in females vs 21.9% in males), respectively.

Fast food consumption was associated with WHR, while was not related to BMI.

Sandwich consumption was associated with obesity/overweight based on BMI to 35%, fried chicken to 40%, and pizza more than 80%.

Introduction

The percentage of caloric intake from fast foods has increased fivefold over the past three decades among adolescents [ 1 , 2 ]. In addition, obesity prevalence increased dramatically worldwide as one of the most serious public health problem especially in childhood and adolescents in current century [ 3 ]. Fast food consumption has increasing’ trend due to convenience, costs, menu choices, flavor and taste [ 4 ]. About 30% of children to more than 50% in college students use fast food daily[ 2 , 5 ]. Moreover, more than 33% of adults and 17% of children and teenagers are obese in united states [ 6 ]. Increased food consumption and substantial changes in the food habits are the most important factors of obesity epidemic [ 7 ] besides the poor diet among young people at recent years [ 8 ].

Wide ranges of causes are associated with obesity and overweight that varied from genetic to environmental factors [ 3 , 7 ]. However, our surround environment is one of the key factors that effective in the rapid development of the obesity epidemic in the world [ 7 ]. Fast food consumption is strongly associated with weight gain and obesity. Fast food consumption could increase the risk of obesity and obesity-related diseases as a major public health issue [ 9 , 10 ]. Obesity and overweight are the most important factors of non-communicable diseases related to years of life lost in cardiovascular diseases [ 11 , 12 ].

Fast food is defined by a convenience food purchased in self-service or carry out eating venues without wait service [ 9 ]. Todays, the number of women in the workforce is increased due to changes in the family structure and urbanization in all countries over the past years. Moreover, the working of people for longer hours expands and the food and mealtimes have changed seriously. A rapid growth is observed in fast food industries and restaurants [ 13 ]. Consequently, some worse consequences such as overweight and obesity have increasing trend [ 9 ]. Previous research has identified a strong positive association between the availability of fast food and its consumption as well as fast food consumption and obesity outcomes [ 5 , 8 , 10 , 14 , 15 ]. However, some studies assessed the fast food consumption on the general obesity based on Body Mass Index (BMI) [ 5 , 8 , 10 , 16 ]. Nevertheless, the association between fast food consumption and obesity type (abdominal/general) is unclear [ 3 , 10 ]. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of fast food consumption and obesity/overweight in two different governmental and nongovernmental universities, and to assess the association of fast food consumption with abdominal/general obesity.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 students of two large Universities in Qom, center of Iran, that randomly selected and studying in medical and basic sciences fields at spring 2015. Sample size was calculated based on the fast food prevalence in recent studies with considering the power equal to 90% and first type error equal 5% as well as based on the minimal significant difference expected regarding fast food consumption between the two university and students who used and not used fast food. The study subjects were selected based on the multistage sampling method. In the first phase, according to the stratified random sampling method, 150 students selected from the Qom Medical University, and 150 students selected from a nongovernmental University (Qom branch of Islamic Azad University). Then in each stratum, simple random sampling was used for selecting some classes and recruitment of students. In the third phase, in each selected class, all the eligible students were called to participate in the study. After describing the objectives and the method of data gathering, the informed consent is taken from all the volunteer subjects. Moreover, the ethic committee of Qom University of Medical Sciences approve the study protocol.

Data collection was conducted by a modified version of standard NELSON’ fast food questionnaire [ 17 ]. The reliability and validity of this questionnaire is assessed by them and reported as a reliable measure with fair validity. Moreover, the content validity of modified version of questionnaire changed based on cultural and nutritional differences in Iranian people, was assessed by experts in epidemiology, nutrition and health education majors. Moreover, the reliability of questionnaire was assessed by Cronbakh Alpha and estimated as 0.861.

The main outcomes in our questionnaire were fast food consumption, type of fast food and the frequency of consumption. The variables that evaluated in fast food consumption were selected based on more frequent items that used in Iran based on cultural and religious condition such as different types of sandwich, fried chicken, fried potato, hotdog and pizza.

Obesity indexes data of such as waist and circumference for calculating Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), height and weight for computing BMI were collected. Waist, hip circumference, and height of subjects were measured by anthropometric tape measure. Moreover, the weight of students was measured by a valid scale (SECA 830). BMI and WHR were calculated by standard formulae [ 18 , 19 ].

The WHR index was used for measuring the abdominal obesity and BMI for general obesity. Frequency, mean, and standard deviation were used for description of data. Chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between fast food consumption and quantitative demographic variables with obesity in studied subjects. Independent t-test were used for comparing the mean of age, BMI and WHR and their components in studied subjects between used and un-used fast food consumption. Finally, multivariate logistic regression was used to control the potential confounders including job, educational level, field of study and type of university. The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software (Chicago, IL, USA) and the type one error considered in 0.05 level.

Overall, 72.4% (67.4% in females vs 80.7% in males) have fast food consumption. These students used at least one type of the fast foods in the recent month. However, the most common type of fast food consumption was sandwich 44.4%, pizza 39.7%, fried chicken 13.8%, respectively. Figure 1 showed the distribution of different type of fast foods in recent month after survey.

The prevalence of different the types of fast food consumption in studied students.

Table I shows the comparison of fast food consumption in students by chi square test between who were consumed fast food in recent month and who not consumed. This table showed that there was significant difference between subjects who used and did not use fast food in recent month regarding to the gender, marital status, education level, university, and major of study. The married and male students as well as who studied in basic sciences and nongovernmental university were used more fast food. Nevertheless, there was no significant relationship between job and residency place at night with fast food consumption.

Table II shows that there was a significant difference between studied subjects who used and not used fast food in past month regarding to waist and WHR (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, the difference in age, weight, height, hip, and BMI was not significant between two groups.

Comparing the mean of age, BMI and WHR and their components in studied subjects between used and un-used fast food consumption.

The overweight/obesity prevalence based on BMI classification (higher 25 kg/m 2 ) was 21.3% (95% CI: 19.4, 23.2%) calculated 18.2% (95% CI: 16.1, 20.3) in females vs 26.3% (95% CI: 22.7, 29.8) in males. Moreover, the obesity prevalence based on WHR was 33.2% (95% CI: 30.7, 35.7) calculated 40.1% (95% CI: 36.6, 43.5) in females vs 21.9% (95% CI: 18.8, 25.0) in males, respectively. Therefore, we considered a subject as obese if he/she had BMI more than 25 or WHR more than 0.9 in males and more than 0.8 in females. According to this definition, 37.2% (41.2% in females vs 30.7% in males) were affected to overweight and obesity. Therefore, the consumption of fast food was related to obesity. Moreover, a significant relationship was observed between obesity and consumption of sandwich (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.4, 2.41), fried chicken (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.22,1.73), and pizza (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.9). In addition, the fast food consumption was related to WHR as abdominal obesity (OR: 1.46, 95 CI: 1.11, 2.26), but was not related to BMI as general obesity (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.63, 1.52) ( Tab. III ). Based on multivariate regression model ( Tab. IV ) only marital status, type of university and gender were the most related factors of fast food consumption. Therefore, studying in nongovernmental university (OR: 3.16, 95% CI: 1.8, 5.6), single status (OR: 3.08, 95% CI: 1.26, 5.01) and being females (OR: 2.96, 95% CI: 1.61,4.53) are the most important related factors of fast food consumption, respectively in Qom, Iran.

The relationship between fast food consumption and obesity in studied subjects.

Multivariate analysis of predictive factors of fast food consumption in under studied subjects.

The adjusted variables in this model were job, educational level, field of study and type of university.

According to our results, 72.4% and 34% have used at least one type of the fast foods in recent month and recent week, respectively. It seems that the consumption of fast food in Qom students is high due to lack of recreational facilities and entertainment in this religious city. However, the fast food consumption in our study was lower than other studies [ 4 , 20 ]. Results of studies in students of King Faisal University reported that more than 90% of people used fast foods monthly that was higher our estimate. In addition, a same study in female students aged 18 to 25 years showed that 47.1% had fast food consumption for two or more time per week [ 5 ].

The obesity prevalence in our study was estimated 21.3% and 33.2%, based on BMI and WHR, respectively. In a previous study, the obesity/overweight prevalence was 29.7% 5 and nearly half of them used fast foods. Moreover, in Shah et al. study, more than 34% of Chinese medical students were pre-obese and obese [ 4 ].

According to our results WHR was significantly different between subjects who used and not used fast food while, the difference in BMI was not significant. Therefore, fast food consumption was related to WHR, but did not related to BMI. In addition, consumption of sandwich, fried chicken and pizza were associated with obesity/overweight based BMI. Same direct association were demonstrated the association between fast food consumption and overweight/obesity in different studies [ 10 , 14 , 15 , 21 , 22 ]. Fast foods are poor in micronutrients, low in fiber, high energy density, high in glycemic load9 and large portion size with sugar [ 4 ] and could be more energetic than the daily energy requirements [ 6 , 9 ]. In addition, the average energy density of an entire menu in fast food restaurant is approximately more than twice the energy density of a healthy menu [ 22 ]. According to some studies [ 3 , 22 , 23 ] obesity is the core of some important non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes [ 12 , 22 , 23 ]. Increase in energy density of diet by fat or sugar, together with concomitant eating behaviors like snacking, binge eating and eating out; promote unhealthy weight gain through passive overconsumption of energy [ 4 , 6 ].

Fast food consumption is positively related to overweight and obesity due to extremely high energy density of these foods [ 6 , 22 ]. Moreover, a study a significant association was observed between BMI and fast food consumption [ 4 ]. Two commonly eaten fast foods including fried foods and hotdogs have been associated with risk of obesity and weight gain [ 22 ]. Moreover, fast food consumption was related to general obesity in female adolescents. Moreover, obesity/overweight was significantly associated with frequency of fast food consumption [ 5 ].

This study found the prevalence of obesity was higher in females, while the prevalence of fast food consumption was higher in males. However, male students who are married are more interesting to eating fast food and it might be due to the religious culture of Qom as the most religious city of Iran. In the other hand, the single female students are not free to go in fast food restaurants than married ones. Moreover, three variables including marital status, type of university and gender are the most associated factors of fast food consumption. Based on our results in multivariate model, both studying in nongovernmental University and being single increase the odds of fast food consumption more than three fold. Moreover, female students used fast food 2.9 folds more than male students. The main reasons of students for fast food consumption are taste and comfort to access to these foods and lack of cooking skills [ 5 ]. The higher fast foods consumption in females and single students might related to lower wasting time in android social networks than male students [ 25 , 26 ]. Moreover, since in nongovernmental university the price of kitchen food is high, the students are more interesting to have eating in fast food restaurants. However, the fast food prevalence is high in students and teenagers probably due to low cost [ 4 , 16 ]. Nevertheless, because comfort accesses to fast food the corresponding expenditures are rising among people [ 15 ]. Moreover, the price of health outcomes of consequences of fast food consumption are more expensive and need to more investigations [ 9 , 15 ].

We could not measure the morphometric characters and adipocity measures of students as other body compositions indexes. Moreover, lack of cooperation of students for anthropometric measurements was another limitation of the current study.

Conclusions

The prevalence of fast food consumption and obesity/overweight in Iranian student is high. Studying in nongovernmental University, being single and females were associated with fast food consumption to three fold. Fast food consumption could have associated to abdominal obesity based WHR to 46%, but was not related to general obesity based on BMI. However, this study showed the different effect of fast foods on abdominal and general obesity as a hypothesis. Future studies need to determine the pure effect of fast food consumption on different dimensions of obesity.

The relationship between demographic variables and fast food consumption.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the research Vice-Chancellor of Qom University of Medical Sciences for financial supporting of this work. They are also grateful students who participated in this study.

Funding source: Qom University of Medical Sciences.

Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Authors' contributions

AM: contributions to the conception, design of the work; analysis, and interpretation of data and Final approval of article.AA: contributions the acquisition and analysis of data for the work and Drafting the article. EM: contributions to the conception or design of the work; interpretation of data for the work; and Final approval of the article. SA: contributions to the conception or design of the work; interpretation of data for the work; and Final approval of the article. SK: contributions to the conception or design of the work analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; and Final approval of the article.HA: contributions to the conception, design of the work; analysis, and interpretation of data and Final approval of article.

Frontiers for Young Minds

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The Impacts of Junk Food on Health

Energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, otherwise known as junk foods, have never been more accessible and available. Young people are bombarded with unhealthy junk-food choices daily, and this can lead to life-long dietary habits that are difficult to undo. In this article, we explore the scientific evidence behind both the short-term and long-term impacts of junk food consumption on our health.

Introduction

The world is currently facing an obesity epidemic, which puts people at risk for chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Junk food can contribute to obesity and yet it is becoming a part of our everyday lives because of our fast-paced lifestyles. Life can be jam-packed when you are juggling school, sport, and hanging with friends and family! Junk food companies make food convenient, tasty, and affordable, so it has largely replaced preparing and eating healthy homemade meals. Junk foods include foods like burgers, fried chicken, and pizza from fast-food restaurants, as well as packaged foods like chips, biscuits, and ice-cream, sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, fatty meats like bacon, sugary cereals, and frozen ready meals like lasagne. These are typically highly processed foods , meaning several steps were involved in making the food, with a focus on making them tasty and thus easy to overeat. Unfortunately, junk foods provide lots of calories and energy, but little of the vital nutrients our bodies need to grow and be healthy, like proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Australian teenagers aged 14–18 years get more than 40% of their daily energy from these types of foods, which is concerning [ 1 ]. Junk foods are also known as discretionary foods , which means they are “not needed to meet nutrient requirements and do not belong to the five food groups” [ 2 ]. According to the dietary guidelines of Australian and many other countries, these five food groups are grains and cereals, vegetables and legumes, fruits, dairy and dairy alternatives, and meat and meat alternatives.

Young people are often the targets of sneaky advertising tactics by junk food companies, which show our heroes and icons promoting junk foods. In Australia, cricket, one of our favorite sports, is sponsored by a big fast-food brand. Elite athletes like cricket players are not fuelling their bodies with fried chicken, burgers, and fries! A study showed that adolescents aged 12–17 years view over 14.4 million food advertisements in a single year on popular websites, with cakes, cookies, and ice cream being the most frequently advertised products [ 3 ]. Another study examining YouTube videos popular amongst children reported that 38% of all ads involved a food or beverage and 56% of those food ads were for junk foods [ 4 ].

What Happens to Our Bodies Shortly After We Eat Junk Foods?

Food is made up of three major nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. There are also vitamins and minerals in food that support good health, growth, and development. Getting the proper nutrition is very important during our teenage years. However, when we eat junk foods, we are consuming high amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, which are quickly absorbed by the body.

Let us take the example of eating a hamburger. A burger typically contains carbohydrates from the bun, proteins and fats from the beef patty, and fats from the cheese and sauce. On average, a burger from a fast-food chain contains 36–40% of your daily energy needs and this does not account for any chips or drinks consumed with it ( Figure 1 ). This is a large amount of food for the body to digest—not good if you are about to hit the cricket pitch!

• Figure 1 - The nutritional composition of a popular burger from a famous fast-food restaurant, detailing the average quantity per serving and per 100 g.
• The carbohydrates of a burger are mainly from the bun, while the protein comes from the beef patty. Large amounts of fat come from the cheese and sauce. Based on the Australian dietary guidelines, just one burger can be 36% of the recommended daily energy intake for teenage boys aged 12–15 years and 40% of the recommendations for teenage girls 12–15 years.

A few hours to a few days after eating rich, heavy foods such as a burger, unpleasant symptoms like tiredness, poor sleep, and even hunger can result ( Figure 2 ). Rather than providing an energy boost, junk foods can lead to a lack of energy. For a short time, sugar (a type of carbohydrate) makes people feel energized, happy, and upbeat as it is used by the body for energy. However, refined sugar , which is the type of sugar commonly found in junk foods, leads to a quick drop in blood sugar levels because it is digested quickly by the body. This can lead tiredness and cravings [ 5 ].

• Figure 2 - The short- and long-term impacts of junk food consumption.
• In the short-term, junk foods can make you feel tired, bloated, and unable to concentrate. Long-term, junk foods can lead to tooth decay and poor bowel habits. Junk foods can also lead to obesity and associated diseases such as heart disease. When junk foods are regularly consumed over long periods of time, the damages and complications to health are increasingly costly.

Fiber is a good carbohydrate commonly found in vegetables, fruits, barley, legumes, nuts, and seeds—foods from the five food groups. Fiber not only keeps the digestive system healthy, but also slows the stomach’s emptying process, keeping us feeling full for longer. Junk foods tend to lack fiber, so when we eat them, we notice decreasing energy and increasing hunger sooner.

Foods such as walnuts, berries, tuna, and green veggies can boost concentration levels. This is particularly important for young minds who are doing lots of schoolwork. These foods are what most elite athletes are eating! On the other hand, eating junk foods can lead to poor concentration. Eating junk foods can lead to swelling in the part of the brain that has a major role in memory. A study performed in humans showed that eating an unhealthy breakfast high in fat and sugar for 4 days in a row caused disruptions to the learning and memory parts of the brain [ 6 ].

Long-Term Impacts of Junk Foods

If we eat mostly junk foods over many weeks, months, or years, there can be several long-term impacts on health ( Figure 2 ). For example, high saturated fat intake is strongly linked with high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood, which can be a sign of heart disease. Respected research studies found that young people who eat only small amounts of saturated fat have lower total cholesterol levels [ 7 ].

Frequent consumption of junk foods can also increase the risk of diseases such as hypertension and stroke. Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure and a stroke is damage to the brain from reduced blood supply, which prevents the brain from receiving the oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive. Hypertension and stroke can occur because of the high amounts of cholesterol and salt in junk foods.

Furthermore, junk foods can trigger the “happy hormone,” dopamine , to be released in the brain, making us feel good when we eat these foods. This can lead us to wanting more junk food to get that same happy feeling again [ 8 ]. Other long-term effects of eating too much junk food include tooth decay and constipation. Soft drinks, for instance, can cause tooth decay due to high amounts of sugar and acid that can wear down the protective tooth enamel. Junk foods are typically low in fiber too, which has negative consequences for gut health in the long term. Fiber forms the bulk of our poop and without it, it can be hard to poop!

Tips for Being Healthy

One way to figure out whether a food is a junk food is to think about how processed it is. When we think of foods in their whole and original forms, like a fresh tomato, a grain of rice, or milk squeezed from a cow, we can then start to imagine how many steps are involved to transform that whole food into something that is ready-to-eat, tasty, convenient, and has a long shelf life.

For teenagers 13–14 years old, the recommended daily energy intake is 8,200–9,900 kJ/day or 1,960 kcal-2,370 kcal/day for boys and 7,400–8,200 kJ/day or 1,770–1,960 kcal for girls, according to the Australian dietary guidelines. Of course, the more physically active you are, the higher your energy needs. Remember that junk foods are okay to eat occasionally, but they should not make up more than 10% of your daily energy intake. In a day, this may be a simple treat such as a small muffin or a few squares of chocolate. On a weekly basis, this might mean no more than two fast-food meals per week. The remaining 90% of food eaten should be from the five food groups.

In conclusion, we know that junk foods are tasty, affordable, and convenient. This makes it hard to limit the amount of junk food we eat. However, if junk foods become a staple of our diets, there can be negative impacts on our health. We should aim for high-fiber foods such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruits; meals that have moderate amounts of sugar and salt; and calcium-rich and iron-rich foods. Healthy foods help to build strong bodies and brains. Limiting junk food intake can happen on an individual level, based on our food choices, or through government policies and health-promotion strategies. We need governments to stop junk food companies from advertising to young people, and we need their help to replace junk food restaurants with more healthy options. Researchers can focus on education and health promotion around healthy food options and can work with young people to develop solutions. If we all work together, we can help young people across the world to make food choices that will improve their short and long-term health.

Obesity : ↑ A disorder where too much body fat increases the risk of health problems.

Processed Food : ↑ A raw agricultural food that has undergone processes to be washed, ground, cleaned and/or cooked further.

Discretionary Food : ↑ Foods and drinks not necessary to provide the nutrients the body needs but that may add variety to a person’s diet (according to the Australian dietary guidelines).

Refined Sugar : ↑ Sugar that has been processed from raw sources such as sugar cane, sugar beets or corn.

Saturated Fat : ↑ A type of fat commonly eaten from animal sources such as beef, chicken and pork, which typically promotes the production of “bad” cholesterol in the body.

Dopamine : ↑ A hormone that is released when the brain is expecting a reward and is associated with activities that generate pleasure, such as eating or shopping.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

[1] ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2013. 4324.0.55.002 - Microdata: Australian Health Survey: Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2011-12 . Australian Bureau of Statistics. Available online at: http://bit.ly/2jkRRZO (accessed December 13, 2019).

[2] ↑ National Health and Medical Research Council. 2013. Australian Dietary Guidelines Summary . Canberra, ACT: National Health and Medical Research Council.

[3] ↑ Potvin Kent, M., and Pauzé, E. 2018. The frequency and healthfulness of food and beverages advertised on adolescents’ preferred web sites in Canada. J. Adolesc. Health. 63:102–7. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.01.007

[4] ↑ Tan, L., Ng, S. H., Omar, A., and Karupaiah, T. 2018. What’s on YouTube? A case study on food and beverage advertising in videos targeted at children on social media. Child Obes. 14:280–90. doi: 10.1089/chi.2018.0037

[5] ↑ Gómez-Pinilla, F. 2008. Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 9, 568–78. doi: 10.1038/nrn2421

[6] ↑ Attuquayefio, T., Stevenson, R. J., Oaten, M. J., and Francis, H. M. 2017. A four-day western-style dietary intervention causes reductions in hippocampal-dependent learning and memory and interoceptive sensitivity. PLoS ONE . 12:e0172645. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172645

[7] ↑ Te Morenga, L., and Montez, J. 2017. Health effects of saturated and trans-fatty acid intake in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 12:e0186672. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186672

[8] ↑ Reichelt, A. C. 2016. Adolescent maturational transitions in the prefrontal cortex and dopamine signaling as a risk factor for the development of obesity and high fat/high sugar diet induced cognitive deficits. Front. Behav. Neurosci. 10. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00189

Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Fast Food — Argumentative About Fast Food

Argumentative About Fast Food

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The fast food industry has with time come under criticism for various reasons, top of which are: negative health effects, workforce exploitation and maltreatment, cultural degradation and cruelty towards animals. With regard to cultural shift, the global fast food industry, of which McDonalds is symbolically epitomized, is accused of shifting various populations' general eating patterns.

The number of individuals, suffering from lifestyle diseases are increasing gradually, as more people are adopting the consumption of fast foods. As aforementioned, the shift from more health and nutritious foods, to the fast food industry's main dishes of unhealthy and often calorie-laden menus, has produced negative results with far reaching consequences. These have adverse effects on not only the health and mental wellbeing of individuals, but also on other social aspects, such as political governance, economic output and overall social expenditure (Lee).

Individuals with relatively low income are majorly affected by the prevailing cases of obesity and overweight issues. While the above holds true, there are a number of factors, which have inadvertently added to the prevailing circumstances, which provide for a preference of fast foods over the more nutritious (balanced diet) traditional foods. As Watson (40) showcases, the adverse effects of obesity and being overweight, are not only secluded to the wealthy and well to do, but also the urban poor. This is significantly true of the industrialized world, and to a lesser extent, the developing world.

Factors crucial to this are rooted in the socio-economic and political contexts of a given jurisdiction, with effects being felt throughout the global arena. The fact that lesser volumes of traditional foods are being cultivated portends to lesser nutritional content for the growing global populations. This provides for a dire scenario in the near future, where more and more individuals are nutritionally deprived. The prevalence of fast foods, though economically viable and a time saver, has negative effects in the end. This is due to the health implications to be encountered, as well as the dynamic effects on the socio-economic and governance aspects of society (Watson 45)

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Fast Foods as an Alternative Form of Dietary Intake

Fast foods, sold under various brand names, from various fast food chain outlets, continue being a great hindrance to the healthy output of a majority of urban populations. This is due to their relative prevalence, ease of access, affordability and convenience, as opposed to fast foods, which are more time and resource consuming. This may be aggravated by the nature of procurement, preparation aspect, as well as the aspect of inconvenience, which makes many individuals opt for fast foods.

Social impacts are thus more prevalent in such racial categories of population, as this necessitates greater spending on social and medical/ health welfare. The fact that the existing limited resources are channeled towards curative measures, as opposed to protective measures, means that lesser funding will be available to other core social facets (Lee). This essentially translates to an un-even input-output rational context, where the population present uses more resources than that provided through their collective input.

The current consumption pattern of fast foods threatens the health of the consumers, considering the quantity of calories tied to these foods, as well as adverse health effects that have detrimental effects on the society.

Historical Overview of Balanced Diet

Prior to the adoption of the fast foods, a balanced diet was emphasized for healthy living. Thus, a balanced diet involved a mixture of different food categories in a way that every nutritional component was addressed in every meal. This involved the consumption of foods from different sources with emphasis on the most imperative nutritional component. (Rajveer & Monika 2).

Historical Overview of Fast Foods

Fast foods, on the other hand, were previously discouraged as a means of sustenance due to the quantity of calories that they supply, as well as the negative health effects that they instigate in the human body. The existing fast food joints performed poorly during their initial growth/ expansion stages. However, gradually, the fast food sector has become acceptable amongst global populations with relatively lower income and it connection to convenience (Watson 47).

The Collapse of The Emphasis on Balanced Diet and Adoption of Fast Foods

The changing or shifting pattern of consumption that emphasized on convenience led to the emergence and adoption of the fast foods. This was at the expense of the existing healthy form of living that emphasized on balanced diets, which were crucial for the greater and healthier sustenance of man. While fast food outlets came with varying advantages, the prevailing nature of their negative effects and influences inadvertently negates all the gained advantages (4).

Modernization, as influenced by the advent of globalization, resulted in masse rural-urban migrations, which resulted in the young and productive populace, shifting to urban areas. Consequently, the young and elderly populations were left in the rural areas, which essentially served as primary contributors to healthy and nutritional diets. Farming thus was negated to these population segments, whose general output is far less than the prevailing demand (Rajveer & Monika 5).

Future Research

Little information exists on the correlation between the other social problems instigated by fast foods, since most current research focuses on the health effects. There is thus a greater need to focus on the socio-economic and even political effects of an unhealthy population, on a given society. Ashakiran and Deepthi (7), further add by displaying the negative social effects that unhealthy dietary intake has on the prevailing social fabric. Thus, through an interdisciplinary evaluation can the overall social causal effects and influences be best-understood and, therefore, more inclusive contribution towards mitigating and eventually alleviating the negative results prevail.

Fast Foods and Health Effects

Fast foods have contributed to various health effects that relate to poor dieting. This is due to the appealing nature of junk/fast food, which is advantaged through its quick, fashionable, convenient and tasty nature. The clever advertisements and allures of convenience are pertinent aspects, which entice populations to fast foods. Time factors, the alluring taste, overall attractiveness and clever advertising are all contributory factors to the higher intake of various types of fast foods (Ashakiran & Deepthi 8-9).

Obesity stands as the most common health effects that have affected individuals within the lower income bracket. While many would be in disagreement, providing the nature of obesity, as being confined to the wealthy populace, social studies and research have found the increasing occurrence of obesity in this population segment. The prevailing nature of affordability and convenience has provided an avenue of nutrition, especially, to the urban poor, who cannot afford traditional balanced diets. This may be rooted in the fact that fresh produce is a bit expensive for wholesome continuous consumption.

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Other diseases that have significant impacts on the society include diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, hypertension and asthma. As Kirkpatrick portends, most of those queuing through fast food chain drive-thru lines would most likely not order well-balanced meals, especially those packed with nutrients and full of fiber. Consequently, such populations have compromised their health and wellbeing, for taste and convenience, leaving themselves vulnerable to various lifestyle diseases and ailments as aforementioned (Kirkpatrick).

The increase of the health effects is owed to the growing adoption of fast foods even among populations that have adequate access to the healthy diets. As aforementioned, the ease of preparation, timesaving factor and convenience provide various individuals with an easier route to their daily nutritional intake, which is, unfortunately, often lacking in terms of balanced nutrients and minerals. As Lee provides, various studies portend to a dire future case scenario, where such negligence will bring a huge population under medical treatment, for various cases of treatable ailments (Lee).

The Health Effects and Social Impact

The occurrence of fast food, related health effects bears considerable social impact through the utilization of resources that should otherwise be directed towards development into alleviation of these health effects. This is because more resources are expanded on social welfare, as well as the health and medical wellbeing of such populations, with little being diverted to more socially comprehensive and influencing channels. Through medical and healthcare provision, which is expensive, governments are increasingly becoming pressed for funds, crucial for governance and economic growth.

Health effects are causing deaths, which affect the productivity within the society. While traditionally, younger populations would often take care of their elderly, through continuous social-economic input, current prevailing circumstances have negated this crucial aspect to their respective governments. Consequently, younger and more productive people are dying because of lifestyle diseases, which are easily preventable through balanced dietary intake (Ashakiran & Deepthi).

Diseases such as obesity among the infants have created the need for promoting healthful living that utilizes resources that would be used in societal developments. This would necessitate a vital shift from fast foods to more involving food preparation, with children, being involved more to acculturate a culture of wholesome food preparation and consumption. There is the need for greater involvement in fitness and general exercises, which would aid their bodies' burn more calories. This is opposed to the current prevailing contexts, where most are engaged in non-calorie burning activities.

Remedies for the Fast Food Consumption Trend

Promotion of balanced diets and healthy training.

The growing trend of obesity and overweight issues can be reversed gradually, if not mitigated and hence provide for a more secure and healthy future. Exercises are crucial to the overall well-being of an individual, due to the various advantages and benefits inherent (Lee). By shifting to traditional foods, which are healthier and more nutritious, the negative effects of junk food can gradually be reversed.

Campaigns for the Homemade Foods, as Opposed to Fast Foods

These campaigns are crucial in accomplishing a holistic shift of mindset. A great advantage of the fast food industry is that it possesses the capacity to churn out great/ clever advertisements, which do attract and retain such huge populations. Consequently, various initiatives should be started and further enhanced towards emancipating the prevailing ideals of traditional foods. Local/ slow food movements are crucial starting steps, aiming at preserving and disseminating information about local ingredients, cuisines and general traditional food preparation.

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Provision of information regarding the health effects of fast foods.

This should be clearly indicated, in the various medical sites and policy networks, especially with reference to the food industry. Governments should stringently require a greater provision of vital data, especially pertaining to general consumption of various foods as provided in various food outlets. Calorie intake present should be clearly indicated, so as to clearly provide crucial information, thus rendering ignorance as a weak excuse, and more blame on optional choice of the individual (Rajveer & Monika 8-9).

Subsidizing Healthy Meals for the Lower Income Individuals

This would be a great move in the right direction as traditional foods, though being more nutritious and healthy, are unfortunately out of the reach of a majority of urban populations. The poor are especially affected, as they have a limited choice of dietary intake, hence are dependent on junk food. This should be actively enacted by way of government involvement, as this necessitates macro-economic input/ contribution.

Replacement of Fast Food Chains with Organic Food

Chains to Alter the Eating Habits

Though being a far-fetched idea, can be gradually implemented, pertinently so with increased government input, as well as a holistic social refocus on better and healthier lifestyles (Kirkpatrick). This would necessitate a shift from junk food, to more traditional meals, which are far healthier and nutrient-packed.

Fast foods generate adverse health effects that influence the society in negative ways through the consumption of funds, which are meant for community development. This is due to the funds being directed towards the alleviation of the societal problems, as opposed to the creation of better opportunities through enhanced socio-economic input. The health effects attributed to fast foods include obesity, hypertension, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes among others. These diseases and ailments, it should be noted are fundamentally lifestyle-induced and hence preventable.

Thus, it should be the focus of all facets of current social systems, to work together through a holistic approach, with regard to tackling the prevailing nature of lifestyle induced illnesses and ailments. The society ought to present strategies to discourage the consumption of fast foods and promote the consumption of foods that present the body with the necessary nourishment. Through such an approach, there is a greater focus on future effects, and hence better means of combating various inherent diseases.

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Many of us can’t imagine starting the day without a cup of coffee. One reason may be that it supplies us with a jolt of caffeine, a mild stimulant to the central nervous system that quickly boosts our alertness and energy levels. [1] Of course, coffee is not the only caffeine-containing beverage. Read on to learn more about sources of caffeine, and a review of the research on this stimulant and health.

Absorption and Metabolism of Caffeine

The chemical name for the bitter white powder known as caffeine is 1,3,7 trimethylxanthine. Caffeine is absorbed within about 45 minutes after consuming, and peaks in the blood anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. [2] Caffeine in beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda is quickly absorbed in the gut and dissolves in both the body’s water and fat molecules. It is able to cross into the brain. Food or food components, such as fibers, in the gut can delay how quickly caffeine in the blood peaks. Therefore, drinking your morning coffee on an empty stomach might give you a quicker energy boost than if you drank it while eating breakfast.

Caffeine is broken down mainly in the liver. It can remain in the blood anywhere from 1.5 to 9.5 hours, depending on various factors. [2] Smoking speeds up the breakdown of caffeine, whereas pregnancy and oral contraceptives can slow the breakdown. During the third trimester of pregnancy, caffeine can remain in the body for up to 15 hours. [3]

People often develop a “caffeine tolerance” when taken regularly, which can reduce its stimulant effects unless a higher amount is consumed. When suddenly stopping all caffeine, withdrawal symptoms often follow such as irritability, headache, agitation, depressed mood, and fatigue. The symptoms are strongest within a few days after stopping caffeine, but tend to subside after about one week. [3] Tapering  the amount gradually may help to reduce side effects.

Sources of Caffeine

Caffeine is naturally found in the fruit, leaves, and beans of coffee , cacao, and guarana plants. It is also added to beverages and supplements. There is a risk of drinking excess amounts of caffeinated beverages like soda and energy drinks because they are taken chilled and are easy to digest quickly in large quantities.

• Coffee. 1 cup or 8 ounces of brewed coffee contains about 95 mg caffeine. The same amount of instant coffee contains about 60 mg caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee contains about 4 mg of caffeine. Learn more about coffee .
• Espresso. 1 shot or 1.5 ounces contains about 65 mg caffeine.
• Tea. 1 cup of black tea contains about 47 mg caffeine. Green tea contains about 28 mg. Decaffeinated tea contains 2 mg, and herbal tea contains none. Learn more about tea .
• Soda. A 12-ounce can of regular or diet dark cola contains about 40 mg caffeine. The same amount of Mountain Dew contains 55 mg caffeine.
• Chocolate (cacao) . 1 ounce of dark chocolate contains about 24 mg caffeine, whereas milk chocolate contains one-quarter of that amount.
• Guarana. This is a seed from a South American plant that is processed as an extract in foods, energy drinks, and energy supplements. Guarana seeds contain about four times the amount of caffeine as that found in coffee beans. [4] Some drinks containing extracts of these seeds can contain up to 125 mg caffeine per serving.
• Energy drinks. 1 cup or 8 ounces of an energy drink contains about 85 mg caffeine. However the standard energy drink serving is 16 ounces, which doubles the caffeine to 170 mg. Energy shots are much more concentrated than the drinks; a small 2 ounce shot contains about 200 mg caffeine. Learn more about energy drinks .
• Supplements. Caffeine supplements contain about 200 mg per tablet, or the amount in 2 cups of brewed coffee.

Recommended Amounts

In the U.S., adults consume an average of 135 mg of caffeine daily, or the amount in 1.5 cups of coffee (1 cup = 8 ounces). [5] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers 400 milligrams (about 4 cups brewed coffee) a safe amount of caffeine for healthy adults to consume daily. However, pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to 200 mg a day (about 2 cups brewed coffee), according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children under age 12 should not consume any food or beverages with caffeine. For adolescents 12 and older, caffeine intake should be limited to no more than 100 mg daily. This is the amount in two or three 12-ounce cans of cola soda.

Caffeine and Health

Caffeine is associated with several health conditions. People have different tolerances and responses to caffeine, partly due to genetic differences. Consuming caffeine regularly, such as drinking a cup of coffee every day, can promote caffeine tolerance in some people so that the side effects from caffeine may decrease over time. Although we tend to associate caffeine most often with coffee or tea, the research below focuses mainly on the health effects of caffeine itself. Visit our features on coffee , tea , and energy drinks for more health information related to those beverages.

Caffeine can block the effects of the hormone adenosine, which is responsible for deep sleep . Caffeine binds to adenosine receptors in the brain, which not only lowers adenosine levels but also increases or decreases other hormones that affect sleep, including dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA. [2] Levels of melatonin, another hormone promoting sleep, can drop in the presence of caffeine as both are metabolized in the liver. Caffeine intake later in the day close to bedtime can interfere with good sleep quality. Although developing a caffeine tolerance by taking caffeine regularly over time may lower its disruptive effects, [1] those who have trouble sleeping may consider minimizing caffeine intake later in the day and before going to bed.

In sensitive individuals, caffeine can increase anxiety at doses of 400 mg or more a day (about 4 cups of brewed coffee). High amounts of caffeine may cause nervousness and speed up heart rate, symptoms that are also felt during an anxiety attack. Those who have an underlying anxiety or panic disorder are especially at risk of overstimulation when overloading on caffeine.

Caffeine stimulates the heart, increases blood flow, and increases blood pressure temporarily, particularly in people who do not usually consume caffeine. However, strong negative effects of caffeine on blood pressure have not been found in clinical trials, even in people with hypertension, and cohort studies have not found that coffee drinking is associated with a higher risk of hypertension. Studies also do not show an association of caffeine intake and atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart beat), heart disease , or stroke. [3]

Caffeine is often added to weight loss supplements to help “burn calories.” There is no evidence that caffeine causes significant weight loss. It may help to boost energy if one is feeling fatigued from restricting caloric intake, and may reduce appetite temporarily. Caffeine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which plays a role in suppressing hunger, enhancing satiety, and increasing the breakdown of fat cells to be used for energy. [6] Cohort studies following large groups of people suggest that a higher caffeine intake is associated with slightly lower rates of weight gain in the long term. [3] However, a fairly large amount of caffeine (equivalent to 6 cups of coffee a day) may be needed to achieve a modest increase in calorie “burn.” Additional calories obtained from cream, milk, or sweetener added to a caffeinated beverage like coffee or tea can easily negate any calorie deficit caused by caffeine.

Caffeine can cross the placenta, and both mother and fetus metabolize caffeine slowly. A high intake of caffeine by the mother can lead to prolonged high caffeine blood levels in the fetus. Reduced blood flow and oxygen levels may result, increasing the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. [3] However, lower intakes of caffeine have not been found harmful during pregnancy when limiting intakes to no more than 200 mg a day. A review of controlled clinical studies found that caffeine intake, whether low, medium, or high doses, did not appear to increase the risk of infertility. [7]

Most studies on liver disease and caffeine have specifically examined coffee intake. Caffeinated coffee intake is associated with a lower risk of liver cancer, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Caffeine may prevent the fibrosis (scarring) of liver tissue by blocking adenosine, which is responsible for the production of collagen that is used to build scar tissue. [3]

Studies have shown that higher coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of gallstones. [8] Decaffeinated coffee does not show as strong a connection as caffeinated coffee. Therefore, it is likely that caffeine contributes significantly to this protective effect. The gallbladder is an organ that produces bile to help break down fats; consuming a very high fat diet requires more bile, which can strain the gallbladder and increase the risk of gallstones. It is believed that caffeine may help to stimulate contractions in the gallbladder and increase the secretion of cholecystokinin, a hormone that speeds the digestion of fats.

Caffeine may protect against Parkinson’s disease. Animal studies show a protective effect of caffeine from deterioration in the brain. [3] Prospective cohort studies show a strong association of people with higher caffeine intakes and a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. [9]

Caffeine has a similar action to the medication theophylline, which is sometimes prescribed to treat asthma. They both relax the smooth muscles of the lungs and open up bronchial tubes, which can improve breathing. The optimal amount of caffeine needs more study, but the trials reviewed revealed that even a lower caffeine dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight showed benefit over a placebo. [10] Caffeine has also been used to treat breathing difficulties in premature infants. [3]

Caffeine stimulates the release of a stress hormone called epinephrine, which causes liver and muscle tissue to release its stored glucose into the bloodstream, temporarily raising blood glucose levels. However, regular caffeine intake is not associated with an increased risk of diabetes . In fact, cohort studies show that regular coffee intake is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes , though the effect may be from the coffee plant compounds rather than caffeine itself, as decaffeinated coffee shows a similar protective effect. [3] Other observational studies suggest that caffeine may protect and preserve the function of beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for secreting insulin. [11]

Signs of Toxicity

Caffeine toxicity has been observed with intakes of 1.2 grams or more in one dose. Consuming 10-14 grams at one time is believed to be fatal. Caffeine intake up to 10 grams has caused convulsions and vomiting, but recovery is possible in about 6 hours. Side effects at lower doses of 1 gram include restlessness, irritability, nervousness, vomiting, rapid heart rate, and tremors.

Toxicity is generally not seen when drinking caffeinated beverages because a very large amount would need to be taken within a few hours to reach a toxic level (10 gm of caffeine is equal to about 100 cups of brewed coffee). Dangerous blood levels are more often seen with overuse of caffeine pills or tablets. [3]

Did You Know?

• Caffeine is not just found in food and beverages but in various medications. It is often added to analgesics (pain relievers) to provide faster and more effective relief from pain and headaches. Headache or migraine pain is accompanied by enlarged inflamed blood vessels; caffeine has the opposite effect of reducing inflammation and narrowing blood vessels, which may relieve the pain.
• Caffeine can interact with various medications. It can cause your body to break down a medication too quickly so that it loses its effectiveness. It can cause a dangerously fast heart beat and high blood pressure if taken with other stimulant medications. Sometimes a medication can slow the metabolism of caffeine in the body, which may increase the risk of jitteriness and irritability, especially if one tends to drink several caffeinated drinks throughout the day. If you drink caffeinated beverages daily, talk with your doctor about potential interactions when starting a new medication.

Energy Drinks

• Clark I, Landolt HP. Coffee, caffeine, and sleep: A systematic review of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials. Sleep medicine reviews . 2017 Feb 1;31:70-8. *Disclosure: some of HPL’s research has been supported by Novartis Foundation for Medical-Biological Research.
• Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Military Nutrition Research. Caffeine for the Sustainment of Mental Task Performance: Formulations for Military Operations. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2001. 2, Pharmacology of Caffeine. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223808/
• van Dam RM, Hu FB, Willett WC. Coffee, Caffeine, and Health.  NEJM .  2020 Jul 23; 383:369-378
• Moustakas D, Mezzio M, Rodriguez BR, Constable MA, Mulligan ME, Voura EB. Guarana provides additional stimulation over caffeine alone in the planarian model. PLoS One . 2015 Apr 16;10(4):e0123310.
• Drewnowski A, Rehm CD. Sources of caffeine in diets of US children and adults: trends by beverage type and purchase location. Nutrients . 2016 Mar;8(3):154.
• Harpaz E, Tamir S, Weinstein A, Weinstein Y. The effect of caffeine on energy balance. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacolog y. 2017 Jan 1;28(1):1-0.
• Bu FL, Feng X, Yang XY, Ren J, Cao HJ. Relationship between caffeine intake and infertility: a systematic review of controlled clinical studies.  BMC Womens Health . 2020;20(1):125.
• Zhang YP, Li WQ, Sun YL, Zhu RT, Wang WJ. Systematic review with meta‐analysis: coffee consumption and the risk of gallstone disease. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics . 2015 Sep;42(6):637-48.
• Hong CT, Chan L, Bai CH. The Effect of Caffeine on the Risk and Progression of Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis. Nutrients . 2020 Jun;12(6):1860.
• Welsh EJ, Bara A, Barley E, Cates CJ. Caffeine for asthma.  Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2010;2010(1):CD001112.
• Lee S, Min JY, Min KB. Caffeine and Caffeine Metabolites in Relation to Insulin Resistance and Beta Cell Function in US Adults. Nutrients . 2020 Jun;12(6):1783.

Last reviewed July 2020

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