Eating habits have changed greatly over time as the world develops. Unlike in the past when most people ate healthy food prepared at home, today more and more individuals are eating junk food such as French fries, cheeseburgers, pizza, and milkshake among others. Whereas the dark side of such fast foods is a widely known fact, the popularity of the delicacies seems to be growing by the day. Under such a background, it is worth investigating the causes and effects of eating junk food. The trend of consuming junk food, which is mainly driven by changing lifestyles and advertising, leads to various health issues both physical and mental.
Change in lifestyle is a key reason why an increasing number of people, especially young adults, are eating junk food (Moisio, Arnould, and Price, 376). In the contemporary period, many individuals work long hours, others attend extended school days, while some people have to work and study at the same time. In addition, unlike in the past when not many women were working, today families are faced with situations where both partners are employed. Such families, therefore, may fail to cook for reasons related to lack of time (Wolfson et al., 146). For instance, some individuals may wish to prepare supper but lack the time to do so because they have to study or carry work home. Similarly, others may fail to cook because by the time they get home, the places where they could buy ingredients are closed. Such people, thus, often take to fast foods that are readily available or easy to prepare. However, beyond the busy lifestyles, convenience is a key driving factor for eating junk food. Fast food outlets have mushroomed in almost every street in our cities from where one can purchase various ready foods or even have it prepared within no time. People, therefore, find that ordering fast food save them time to engage in other important engagements and to relax after long days at work.
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Another main reason for eating junk food is advertising and the attractiveness of the meals. Most countries around the world adopt a free-market economy where advertising always presents new products to society. The fast food industry spends billions of dollars on promotion initiatives, especially through television advertising. The industry also invests in other media of advertising such as the internet, newspapers, and billboards. The ads make the foods look so attractive that the audience want to try new options every now and then. A study by Boyland and Halford, for instance, established that children develop brands' loyalty to various fast foods through advertisements aired on television (238). The situation is aggravated by the fact that various firms use appetizing price offers to draw customers to prefer junk foods to healthier options oblivious of their impacts. Besides, contemporary society is also characterized by consumerism where people compete in acquiring and trying as many goods and services as possible. At the same time, there is a growing middle class who are easily tempted to spend their disposable income in showing off, for instance, by eating expensive junk foods from such renowned brands as Panera bread, long john silver’s and papa murphy’s.
Fast food has various effects on users, most of which are negative, especially on one's health. Some of the serious health impacts include low energy levels, unhealthy weight gain, as well as illnesses such as dementia, depression, asthma, eczema, and rhinoconjunctivitis (Ellwood et al., 351). For instance, most people eat fast foods for immediate gratification and though it can spike one's energy quite fast, the energy levels plummet quite fast since the foods contain fewer nutrients. Increased appetite for junk food also means less intake of healthier diets and inability to control cravings. Hence, one could easily become obese because most fast foods have high fat and sugar content. Besides the impacts on diet, junk food has also been shown to contribute to memory and learning problems. Excessive consumption of fatty foods and sweetened junk food can considerably increase one’s insulin levels. The body produces insulin in the pancreas where it helps in transporting glucose to other body parts. Insulin is also produced in the brain where it facilitates the communication of signals between nerve cells and forming memories. Higher insulin levels hinder the brain from responding to insulin by triggering resistance to the hormone. Impaired brain functioning can affect one’s ability to create or recall memories leading to Alzheimer’s disease (Suzanne, 475). Dependence on junk food can also put one at the risk of depression.
To sum up, there has been a significant increase in junk food consumption in recent years. The key causes of fast food popularity include busy lifestyles, advertising, attractiveness as well as the convenience in accessing or preparing it. People, however, need to be wary of the effects of the junk food that include weight gain and such diseases as diabetes, asthma, and dementia among others.
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