For most people, the words “fast food” may entice images of delicious chicken nuggets, crisp fries, or cold, carbonated drinks. It is no wonder why these fast food chains have dramatically risen in popularity over the years. Additionally, this admiration can also be linked back to the convenience and low cost of the food. However, this type of food may not always be the best option for the public. Poor health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and pathogenic diseases have been found to be caused by excessive consumption of fast food and its ingredients.
Obesity
The first and probably the most well-known health risk of excessive fast food consumption is obesity. Obesity is defined as “excessive amounts of adipose tissue” (Obesity Society, 2016). …show more content…
Insulin is an important hormone produced by the pancreas in order to control blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. This can later lead to prediabetes, and in some cases, type 2 diabetes (Prediabetes & Insulin Resistance”, 2009). Insulin resistance has also been directly linked to obesity as well. In fact, some “studies have repeatedly linked fast food to obesity and to insulin resistance” (Isganaitis 2005). Adults who report eating fast food have higher BMI and Body-Fat Percentage than those who do not. Moreover, “In a prospective study of fast food habits, baseline fast food intake correlated with obesity. In this same study, individuals with more than 2 visits to fast food restaurants per week gained about 10 pounds over 15 years and were more likely to become insulin resistant” (Isganaitis, 2005). Furthermore, the high levels of sugars and carbohydrates in fast food, especially in carbonated drinks, is an important element that relates back to insulin resistance. Too much of these substances, too frequently, is a dangerous health concern, and should not be taken lightly. It is important to understand why insulin resistance and diabetes can be a dangerous health risk for any individual. As mentioned above, insulin resistance alone does not cause type 2 diabetes, “but it often sets the stage for the disease by …show more content…
In fact, the typical hamburger meal, “which includes a medium serving of fries and a large soft drink, can range from 1100 to 1500 calories and include 40 to 70 g of fat. This represents more than half the daily energy requirement for an average woman and more than a day's worth of fat.” (Lee and Speer 2002). However, this is not the only dangerous contents fast food can contain. Pathogenic diseases have been known to arise is some fast food chains. For example, in August of 1997, Hudson Foods recalled their ground beef that had been used in many hamburger patties in the fast food industry. By the time it was announced 25 million pounds of ground beef had already been eaten. It was found to contain harmful pathogens (Schlosser, 2007). Another recent example of this was the E. Coli breakout throughout select Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. In January 27, 2016, “the CDC reports a total of 55 people infected with the outbreak strain of STEC (Shiga toxin producing E. coli from a total of 11 states in the larger outbreak). There have been 21 reported hospitalizations. The majority of these cases were reported from Oregon and Washington during October 2015” (Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition”,2016). In fact, Schlosser states that “roughly 200,000 people are sickened by a foodborne disease, 900 are hospitalized, and 14 die” (2007). Additionally, pathogenic diseases from fast
Obesity
The first and probably the most well-known health risk of excessive fast food consumption is obesity. Obesity is defined as “excessive amounts of adipose tissue” (Obesity Society, 2016). …show more content…
Insulin is an important hormone produced by the pancreas in order to control blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. This can later lead to prediabetes, and in some cases, type 2 diabetes (Prediabetes & Insulin Resistance”, 2009). Insulin resistance has also been directly linked to obesity as well. In fact, some “studies have repeatedly linked fast food to obesity and to insulin resistance” (Isganaitis 2005). Adults who report eating fast food have higher BMI and Body-Fat Percentage than those who do not. Moreover, “In a prospective study of fast food habits, baseline fast food intake correlated with obesity. In this same study, individuals with more than 2 visits to fast food restaurants per week gained about 10 pounds over 15 years and were more likely to become insulin resistant” (Isganaitis, 2005). Furthermore, the high levels of sugars and carbohydrates in fast food, especially in carbonated drinks, is an important element that relates back to insulin resistance. Too much of these substances, too frequently, is a dangerous health concern, and should not be taken lightly. It is important to understand why insulin resistance and diabetes can be a dangerous health risk for any individual. As mentioned above, insulin resistance alone does not cause type 2 diabetes, “but it often sets the stage for the disease by …show more content…
In fact, the typical hamburger meal, “which includes a medium serving of fries and a large soft drink, can range from 1100 to 1500 calories and include 40 to 70 g of fat. This represents more than half the daily energy requirement for an average woman and more than a day's worth of fat.” (Lee and Speer 2002). However, this is not the only dangerous contents fast food can contain. Pathogenic diseases have been known to arise is some fast food chains. For example, in August of 1997, Hudson Foods recalled their ground beef that had been used in many hamburger patties in the fast food industry. By the time it was announced 25 million pounds of ground beef had already been eaten. It was found to contain harmful pathogens (Schlosser, 2007). Another recent example of this was the E. Coli breakout throughout select Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. In January 27, 2016, “the CDC reports a total of 55 people infected with the outbreak strain of STEC (Shiga toxin producing E. coli from a total of 11 states in the larger outbreak). There have been 21 reported hospitalizations. The majority of these cases were reported from Oregon and Washington during October 2015” (Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition”,2016). In fact, Schlosser states that “roughly 200,000 people are sickened by a foodborne disease, 900 are hospitalized, and 14 die” (2007). Additionally, pathogenic diseases from fast