Since the nineteenth century, technology has been rapidly advancing and humans have been able to grow and preserve vast amounts of food. The substantial and definite surplus of food in the world has given rise to health concerns including heart disease, obesity, cancer, and strokes. Accredited journalist Michael Moss educates his readers in “The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food,” by investigating the obesity crisis largely caused by processed food. A quote from Yale University professor, Kelly Brownell, did the unthinkable and connected the obesity epidemic to tobacco stating, “as a culture, we’ve become upset by the tobacco companies advertising to children, but we sit idly by while the food companies do the very same thing.” (Moss
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Junk food products are known to contain three main ingredients: salts, sugars, and fats. The adolescent community is known to enjoy food which is appealing to the taste, is conventional, and contains the ingredients above. However, the significant problem lies within the end result of eating these synthetic concoctions. Over-consummation of high sugar and salt can take away what matters most to young adults and children- energy and focus. Physically, young children become tired, lose motivation, and are unable to properly perform on a day-to-day basis. In most cases, many children can develop thiamin deficiency, the lack of B complex vitamins in the body, which are required for energy consumption, and ultimately fall to malnutrition. As an adolescent, energy is key in order to conduct daily routines such as going to school, being physically active, and socializing. The cause of these physical problems is considered to be obesity; statistics conclude that since 1999, the childhood obesity rate has “..shot past 12 million” (Moss 260). The rate of obesity has been substantially growing every year, and these values represent the misuse of processed foods by teens and children. Many hormonal changes take place as children grow and an improper diet can sway hormonal balance, resulting in psychological depression. In addition, another cause of depression is substantial weight gain, leading to low self-esteem and little confidence. In today’s society, low self-esteem and poor physical development can be a target cause of bullying, which has also become a national
Junk food products are known to contain three main ingredients: salts, sugars, and fats. The adolescent community is known to enjoy food which is appealing to the taste, is conventional, and contains the ingredients above. However, the significant problem lies within the end result of eating these synthetic concoctions. Over-consummation of high sugar and salt can take away what matters most to young adults and children- energy and focus. Physically, young children become tired, lose motivation, and are unable to properly perform on a day-to-day basis. In most cases, many children can develop thiamin deficiency, the lack of B complex vitamins in the body, which are required for energy consumption, and ultimately fall to malnutrition. As an adolescent, energy is key in order to conduct daily routines such as going to school, being physically active, and socializing. The cause of these physical problems is considered to be obesity; statistics conclude that since 1999, the childhood obesity rate has “..shot past 12 million” (Moss 260). The rate of obesity has been substantially growing every year, and these values represent the misuse of processed foods by teens and children. Many hormonal changes take place as children grow and an improper diet can sway hormonal balance, resulting in psychological depression. In addition, another cause of depression is substantial weight gain, leading to low self-esteem and little confidence. In today’s society, low self-esteem and poor physical development can be a target cause of bullying, which has also become a national