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The progressive increase in fast food consumption can damage health

Jonathan Borba image in Unsplash

Food is an essential part of our lives and the role of food goes far beyond simply nourishing the body. The progressive increase in the consumption of unhealthy foods, also known as fast food , is pushing obesity to surpass hunger as the world's biggest problem in terms of food and nutrition.

Which is fast food?

The term fast food means fast food. It is a differentiated food sector, where standardization, mechanization and speed attract customers. This industrial production model was developed in the United States, according to Fordist principles, and marketed by transnational companies in large franchise networks.

Large cafeteria chains are the main representatives of this type of food, which has spread around the world since the 1970s. With the growth of cities and the accumulation of daily tasks, many people started to seek quick and practical food as a way to buy time. However, they left aside the concern with the nutrients in food.

To produce a large amount of food, these restaurants have well-equipped kitchens and the necessary infrastructure so that everything goes out on schedule. In addition, the consumption environment is often relatively uncomfortable, in order to encourage quick food intake.

O fast food and the damage to health

Eat fast food , despite being very practical for the day to day, can cause several damages to health. Obesity, which arises as a result of the large amount of calories and saturated fats present in these products, is the main risk arising from the consumption of these foods. In addition to obesity, we can highlight diseases associated with high weight gain, such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems.

This type of food is also characterized by the lack of nutrients necessary for the health of the body. One example is the B-complex vitamins, which are found in very low amounts. Studies carried out in Spain report that this nutritional deficiency increases the risk of depression and that people who constantly consume fast food have 51% more chances of developing the disease.

In addition to these damages to health, a study carried out in New Zealand indicates that fast food they can trigger several other problems that until then were not related to this type of food. According to this study, people who eat these quick-prepared foods at least three times a week are more susceptible to developing allergic asthma, eczema and rhinitis.

The Karolinska Institute's Alzheimer's Research Center in Stockholm also carried out studies and found that snacks of the type fast food are related to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's. According to researchers, the large amount of fat and cholesterol, associated with genetic factors, causes brain damage that can contribute to the development of the disease.

The culture of fast food

A survey conducted by the American company gallup, revealed that people with better financial conditions consume more fast food than individuals from lower social strata. The survey, conducted in the United States, involved 2027 adults over the age of 18 and covered a diversity of class, gender, age and ethnicity.

The results showed that 57% of young people between 18 and 29 years old consume fast food at least once a week, and that percentage decreases as people get older. Men are in greater percentage than women in the consumption of fast food , being 57% those who say they consume weekly, against 42% of women who assume they have the same consumption habit.

The most curious thing, however, was the result in terms of social strata, since the fast food is considered a low-cost food. Still, surveys show that, among people with an annual income of $75,000 or more, 51% consume fast food weekly. On the other hand, among people with an annual income of less than US$ 20,000, only 39% consume fast food in the same amount.

The research of gallup pointed out that 76% of people in the United States think that food served in restaurants fast food “not very good” or “not good at all” in terms of health. Even so, the fast food it remains part of the eating routine of most Americans. The low cost, flavor and convenience end up overcoming the nutritional issue. And even for those with better financial conditions, it is difficult to give up this habit, which is already part of the country's culture.

It is understood, therefore, that an inadequate diet rich in foods with fats and sugars can cause serious damage to health. Thus, avoiding products with these characteristics can contribute to improving the population's quality of life and health.