emergency manager23 June 2015

Junk food : Health Hazard

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What is junk food Junk food is a pejorative term for food containing high levels of calories from sugar or fat with little fiber, protein, vitamins or minerals.Junk food can also refer to high protein food like meat prepared with saturated fat. Food from many hamburger outlets and fried chicken outlets is often considered as junk food. Despite being labeled as junk, such foods usually do not pose any immediate health concerns and are generally safe as part of a well-balanced diet. Junk food as danger However, concerns about the negative health effects resulting from a junk food-heavy diet, especially obesity, have resulted in public health awareness campaigns, and restrictions on advertising and sale in several countries. When junk food is consumed very often, the excess fat, simple carbohydrates, and processed sugar found in junk food contributes to an increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and many other chronic health conditions. Study on consumption of fast foods A case study on consumption of fast foods in Ghana suggested a direct correlation between consumption of junk food and obesity rates. The report asserts that obesity resulted to related complex health concerns such upsurge of heart attack rates. Health risks from junk food Studies reveal that as early as the age of 30, arteries could begin clogging and lay the groundwork for future heart attacks. Consumers also tend to eat too much in one sitting, and those who have satisfied their appetite with junk food are less likely to eat healthy foods like fruit or vegetables. Testing on rats has indicated negative effects of junk food that may manifest likewise in people. Junk food consumption alters brain activity A Scripps Research Institute study in 2008 suggested that junk food consumption alters brain activity in a manner similar to addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin. After many weeks with unlimited access to junk food, the pleasure centers of rat brains became desensitized, requiring more food for pleasure; after the junk food was taken away and replaced with a healthy diet, the rats starved for two weeks instead of eating nutritious fare. A 2007 study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that female rats who eat junk food during pregnancy increased the likelihood of unhealthy eating habits in their offspring. Impact of sugary foods on emotional health in humans Other research has been done on the impact of sugary foods on emotional health in humans, and has suggested that consumption of junk food can negatively impact energy levels and emotional well-being.

Anti-junk food measures

A number of countries have adopted, or are considering, various forms of legislated action to curb junk food consumption. In 2014, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Anand Grover, released his report, Unhealthy foods, non-communicable diseases and the right to health, and called for governments to take measures, such as developing food and nutrition guidelines for healthy diets, regulating marketing and advertising of junk food, adopting consumer-friendly labelling of food products, and establishing accountability mechanisms for violations of the right to health. McGovern Committee An early, high-profile and controversial attempt to identify and curb junk food in the American diet was launched by the so-called McGovern Committee, formally, the United States Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs, between 1968 and 1977, chaired by Senator George McGovern. Initially formed to investigate malnutrition and hunger in the US, the committees scope progressively expanded to include environmental conditions that affected eating habits, like urban decay, then focused on the diet and nutritional habits of the American public. It criticized the use of salt, sugar and fat in processed foods, noted problems with overeating and the high percentage of ads for junk food on TV, and stated that bad eating habits could be as deadly as smoking. The findings were heavily criticized and rebutted from many directions, including the food industry, the American Medical Association, and within the committee itself. In 1977, the committee issued public guidelines under the title, Dietary Goals for the United States, which became the predecessor to Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published every five years beginning in 1980 by the US Department of Health and Human Services. Are Fast-food chains culprits? Fast-food chains have come under criticism over concerns ranging from claimed negative health effects, alleged animal cruelty, cases of worker exploitation, and claims of cultural degradation via shifts in peoples eating patterns away from traditional foods. The intake of fast food is increasing worldwide. A study done in the city of Jeddah has shown that current fast food habits are related to the increase of overweight and obesity among adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Who is responsible for obesity crisis ? In 2014, the World Health Organization published a study which claims that deregulated food markets are largely to blame for the obesity crisis, and suggested tighter regulations to reverse the trend. In America local governments are restricting fast food chains by limiting the number of restaurants found in certain geographical areas. Are fast food restaurants changing? To combat criticism, fast food restaurants are starting to offer more health-friendly menu items. In addition to health critics, there are suggestions for the fast food industry to become more eco-friendly. The chains have responded by reducing packaging waste. Are Fast-food chains bad for students ? Despite so much popularity, fast foods and fast food chains have adverse impacts not only on the job and social skills, but on the health and academic performance of students. The researcher of Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser, highlights this fact, arguing that this is not only a financial but also a psychological bait. The students are lured towards this early employment opportunity knowing little that the time spent on this no-skill-learning job is wasted. Hiring and firing cause depression in students Two other researchers Charles Hirschman and Irina Voloshin highlight their dangerous impacts and consequences regarding hiring and firing of teenager school-goers in the fast food industry. It causes depression among students and cause relationship issues. Kelly Brownwell of The Atlantic Times has further supported this argument that another dangerous practice was adopted by Burger King and McDonalds for marketing to the innocent children. It has been found out in a research study conducted by two eminent professors, Professors Purtell Kelly and Gershoff. They found that the students of fifth grades, who ate fast foods as compared to the students of the same age after some other social factors were controlled. The percentage of the students having consumed fast food and showed poor grades was around 11% than those who used organic foods. They are of the view that other social factors such as television watching, video games and playing were controlled to assess the real impacts of the fast foods. Films on Junk food There have been books and films designed to highlight the potential dangers of fast food as it is mentioned heavily in regard to obesity. The film Supersize Me (2004) showed the negative health effects of excessive fast food consumption.