According to a report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children and adolescents from 2015 to 2018 got 13.8 percent of their daily calories from fast food. That is 1.4 percent higher compared to reports from 2011 to 2012. The results, according to experts are expected.
Also, even if the report did not include data from the time of the coronavirus pandemic, health experts expect that there is a chance that the problem is even worsened.
Experts say: Results are not surprising
Dr. Eliana Perrin, a professor at Duke University School of Medicine, says that it is not unexpected that there is a rise in the number of kids and young teens that consume more fast food.
Perrin said in an interview with NBC News, "These are not surprising findings when you think about how strapped families are these days for both time and money, and how fast food can be an easy option for stressed families."
What could have caused the increase in fast food consumption?
Aside from economic status and time constraints, experts say that advertising also plays a significant role in the problem.
According to the director of marketing initiatives of UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Frances Fleming-Milici, there is a significant increase in the exposure of children to fast-food restaurants.
Fast food consumption during the coronavirus pandemic
Perrin says that since the pandemic has affected the economic capabilities of families, there is a higher chance that families would choose fast food over cooking their meals.
The health expert said, "Too many families are poorer than they were before, have more food insecurity and have more work to do with less support."
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Effects of fast-food consumption
According to the website Healthline, consuming fast food can affect the respiratory, central nervous system, and even the reproductive system.
Because fast food contains excess calories, this may cause weight gain and result in obesity.
A study also showed that some people who eat fast food, tend to develop depression.
There is also research that says that junk food can also affect a person's fertility.
The health effects of obesity
One of the most alarming effects of eating too much fast food is the development of obesity.
According to the CDC, obesity can lead to more serious diseases. Some of these diseases are:
- Hypertension
- Type 2 diabetes
- Stroke
- Coronary heart disease
- Sleep apnea
- Mental illness
