What makes fast food a catastrophe?
High in calories is not the only problem. It is all the wrong type of calories and can be a full days caloric intake which means the body is usually suffering from a surplus of calories each day. One day of surplus calories is not the biggest problem, it is the consistent day to day surplus caloric intake that keeps the body working overtime trying to deal with all the processed food. The body starts to store the fat because it can’t process it fast enough. Fast food is loaded with salt, sugar, and trans fats. It is not just about the weight gain that you should be concerned about. It is what is going on inside your body before you even see the weight gain.
Fast and processed foods are a significant contributor to dangerously high cholesterol levels risking heart disease. The high levels of salt (sodium) contribute to high blood pressure and negatively impact kidney function which increases the risk of kidney disease.
In addition to those internal functions being disturbed this type of food consumption can be linked to increased risk of depression. These foods have been studied as a contributor that negatively impacts memory and cognitive function.
RESOURCES:
Cleveland Clinic, HealthEssentials, Here’s How Fast Food Can Affect Your Body, Clinic Staff, January 28,2021, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/heres-how-fast-food-can-affect-your-body
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Summa Health, What Does A Fast Food Meal Do To Your Body?, Alyssa Diamant, RD, LD Clinical Dietitian Weight Management, May 12, 2019
https://www.summahealth.org/flourish/entries/2019/05/what-does-a-fast-food-meal-do-to-your-body
Last viewed: 20250315
Healthline, The Effects of Fast Food on the Body, Ann Pietrangelo, Medically reviewed by Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT, October 25, 2022 https://www.healthline.com/health/fast-food-effects-on-body
Last viewed: 20250314
Medical News Today, Is fast food bad for you? All you need to know about its nutrition and impacts, Timothy Huzar, Medically reviewed by Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT, February 9, 2023
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324847
Last viewed: 20250315