The Effects of Fast Food on Teen Health .

How Fast Food Contributes to Health Related Problems Among Teens By Carma Haley Shoemaker Time constraints, parents who work outside the home, extracurricular activities and social obligations; these are just a few of the reasons teens have developed a need for a quick meal or an "on the go" snack. Fast food, microwave-in-a-minute meals, meals on the go, and heat-n-eat are just a few of the marketing gimmicks that have appealed to households everywhere. Meals that once used to take hours to prepare now can be done in a fraction of the time, allowing teens to continue to be on the go. Have these types of meals affected teen's health and eating habits? You bet your burrito. Issues affecting teen's health related to eating habits and weight have become forefront in medical news. As teens continue to eat on the run, their health continues to run out of control. " Obesity has increased 54 percent in the last 20 years resulting in 25 to 30 percent of teens being obese -- and the number is accelerating," says Susan Burke, a certified nutritionist from New York City, N.Y. "In addition, type II diabetes in children is an emerging epidemic. And as it is no surprise that type II diabetes is directly related to being overweight." Why are Teens Eating so Badly? Several factors of the average teens life must come into play to find the explanation. "There is no one reason, otherwise fixing the problem would be easy," Burke says. "The main factors that affect a teen's diet can be found at school, at home and in their lifestyle. Oftentimes it is not just one factor but a combination of two or more that attribute to a teen's poor diet." Vending machines and fast food venues in school cafeterias, combined with the minimal amount of time teens have for lunch, contributes to the problem. "The school cafeterias are bringing in outside vendors -- not just vending machines, but fast food outlets now have a place in school cafeterias as well," says Burke. "A lot of schools actually have Pizza Hut, they have Dominos and they have Burger King and so on in the schools themselves. Add in the aspect of the decrease in time that teens have for lunch -- some have as little as 15 minutes for lunch. They are using vending machines as they are quicker and offer a shorter waiting time to get their lunch or taking advantage of the fast food venues that are in the schools today." "In order to get a good place in the lunch line to make sure I can get my lunch, I have to run -- literally," says Alec Shoemaker, an eighth grader from Chester, Va. "But if my class is late getting out or I'm late getting to the cafeteria, I have to wait up to 15 minutes just to get my lunch. Then, after waiting in line, I have about five minutes to eat it. So, it's easier to just put some coins in the vending machines and be able to sit down to eat it all without having to hurry. Most kids don't even get lunch because there isn't enough time." To combat the threat of school lunches attributing to the deficiencies in the American teen's diet, parents could choose to have teens "pack" or take their lunch to school. By bringing their own lunch,

they no longer need to wait in a long line which decreases the amount of time they have to eat. Thermal lunch boxes, thermoses and lunch-box-size ice packs make it possible to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold allowing a wider variety of foods to be chosen and taken for a healthy, well-balanced school lunch. Many families today require one or more likely, both parents to work outside the home. With deadlines, quotas and overtime, it is not uncommon for parents to pick up or order out dinner in an attempt to save time. "Another thing that contributes to a teen not eating a healthy diet is the whole phenomenon of the two working parent family," Burke says. "[The USDA] has done a lot of research showing that in the families of teens who eat together do end up eating a more nutritious, well-balanced meal. Less and less parents eat dinner with their kids. A lot of this has to do with the fact that there are so many latchkey kids in our society. Only 50 percent of American families eat dinner together nightly. It's not only the morning meals that the latchkey kids are getting on their own -- and the breakfast is usually chips and soda -- but it's the evening meals as well." "It's tough to make sure kids are eating well when you have to leave the house before them every morning and after them every night," says Carrie Eichler, a nurse and mother of three from Ashland, Ohio. "They want the types of things that taste good but are easy for them to make. I try to get them what they want and what they need, but it's hard to find things that have both taste and nutrition and are still easy for them to prepare. It's a struggle -- for all of us." Set An Example Even parents that work can help to ensure that their teens are eating healthy foods and well-balanced meals. By knowing what is in the cupboards and refrigerator even when your not at home, parents can ensure that they teens will have nutritious foods to choose from when required to prepare their own meals. "The number one thing that parents can do is to set an example," Burke says. "Setting example means that the parents themselves are following a healthy meal plan and shopping healthfully. Number two is that you have to shop for health and for healthy foods. Stock the shelves and the fridge with low-fat cheeses and yogurts, fruits and vegetables. One of the best things a kid can do growing up doing is substituting soda and juice for milk -- even if it's chocolate milk. Low-fat chocolate milk is a better choice then juice or soda. It's a matter of choices." According to the USDA, two-thirds of teens do not get enough zinc or vitamin E, one-half do not get enough calcium and one-third do not get enough iron or vitamin B6. Of American teenage girls, 75 percent do not get enough iron. Parents can equipped themselves with this knowledge and offer their children better choices, better options and better health. "There is an old saying that says 'knowledge is power,'" Burke says. "It is especially true when it comes to parents helping their teens eat well and eat right. Gain the knowledge of what teens need -- vitamins, iron, calcium and a well-balanced diet -- and you gain the knowledge to give them a great gift -- good health.

http://family.go.com/parenting/pkg-teen/article-772256-the-effects-of-fast-food-on-teen-health-t/

Fast food 2: Fast Food Health Risk Facts by Jan Sheehan, Demand Media Fast food is part of the American lifestyle. One in four adults reported eating fast food in a study published in the April 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. But e ating too much fast food can have health consequences. A number of studies have linked fast food to health problems, including an increased risk of obesity, poor nutrition, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Its wise to limit consumption of fast food to reduce the health risks. Higher Risk of Obesity In a large study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the January 2005 issue of Lancet, young adults who consumed fast food more than twice a week gained 10 more pounds than those who had fast food less than once a week. The study in the April 2004 issue of the Journal of American College of Nutrition found that adults ages 20 and older who frequently ate fast food had higher body mass indexes than those who consumed fast food less frequently. A small order of fries and a large hamburger at a fast food outlet has about 800 calories, and sweetened soft drinks, which are often sold with fast food meals, have been linked to obesity in several studies. Higher Risk of Poor Nutrition Data from more than 17,000 adults and children analyzed and published in the October 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that those who frequently consumed fast food had lower intakes of vitamins A and C, dietary fiber, milk and fruits and vegetables than subjects who didnt eat fast food. The fast-food eaters also had higher intakes of calories, saturated fat and sodium than the other subjects. Consumption of carbonated soft drinks was more than double for the frequent fast food eaters, who also consumed more than twice the amount of fried potatoes as those who didnt eat fast food. Filling up on fat-laden fast food and sugary soft drinks leaves little room for more nutritious fare that supports good health. Higher Risk of Diabetes and Stroke Eating fast food more than twice a week doubled the incidence of insulin resistance, a risk factor for diabetes, in the 2005 study published in Lancet, and a 2010 Harvard report linked sweetened soft drinks with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, the risk of stroke may be related to the number of fast food restaurants in a neighborhood, according to a study published in the Annals of Neurology in 2009. The study found the risk of stroke increased by 1 percent for every fast food restaurant in a Texas neighborhood. Fast food is loaded with sodium, which increases the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/fast-food-health-risk-6158.html

fast food 3: How Fast Food Affects Nutrition In Teens by Kevin Kolodziejski, Demand Media Whether it comes from a restaurant, convenience store, vending machine or kitchen cupboard, Carol Simontacchi, certified clinical nutritionist and author of The Crazy Makers, says the prevalence of fast food in America has significantly degraded teens eating habits. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control study found fewer than one in 10 teens consumes the minimum recommended amount of fruits and vegetables a day; a 2004 Harvard study determined three in 10 teens eat four to six meals a week at fast-food restaurants. Vitamins and Minerals Teens need vitamins and minerals to function properly, especially during growth spurts. Most fast foods lack these nutrients. A typical large serving of french fries, for example, contains 4.6 milligrams of vitamin C, an antioxidant used to build tissue, remove arterial plaque and battle disease. One cup of raw broccoli contains 101.2 milligrams, 22 times the amount in the french fries. Two ready-to-eat pancakes and 2 tablespoons of pancake syrup contain .20 milligrams of vitamin E, an antioxidant used to counteract cardiovascular disease and cancer. Two slices of whole-wheat toast and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter have 3.2 milligrams, 16 times the amount in the fast-food combination. A commercially prepared pecan shortbread cookie weighs 14 grams and contains 10 milligrams of potassium, a mineral used to normalize blood pressure, convert glucose into energy and sustain nervous system function. A single-serving box of raisins weighs the same, yet has 105 milligrams of potassium, more than 10 times the cookie. Sodium Fast food has too much of one mineral, sodium, which elevates blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause heart attacks and strokes. Teens should consume no more than 2,400 milligrams per day, yet many fast-food restaurant items contain more than half that amount. A typical breakfast biscuit with ham can have 1,433 milligrams; a large cheeseburger, 1,589 milligrams; six to eight nachos, 1,800 milligrams. Many single-item snack foods also contain staggering amounts. While a 10-ounce plain baked potato only has 25 milligrams of sodium, 10 ounces of typical potato chips have 1,680 milligrams, 67 times that amount. Calories Fast-food meals tend to be high in sugar, fat and processed grains and low in fiber, making them 65 to 100 percent more calorically dense than other meals, causing teens to underestimate the number of calories in fast-food meals. A Harvard Medical School survey, for example, found four out of five did so, with three of 10 off by at least 500 calories. Per gram, french fries have nearly seven times the calories as broccoli; shortbread pecan cookies, almost nine times grapes, the fruit dried to make raisins. The large-sized soft drinks found in fast-food restaurants and convenience stores can contain 400 calories of pure sugar -- nutritionally void calories that do little to alleviate hunger. Adolescents in a 2004 "Journal of the American Medical Association" study -- whether overweight or lean -- ate an average of 1,652

calories per fast-food meal, or 62 percent of their daily requirement. Overweight teens in the study averaged even more, yet did less meal adjusting afterwards to balance energy intake. Obesity and Disease In large part, increased consumption of fast food has created a 250 percent increase in obese teens between 1980 and 2008, according to the National Institutes of Health. Obese teens face a greater risk of eventual disease, including certain cancers, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as early death. Part of the metabolic syndrome cluster, obesity makes developing Type 2 diabetes as an adult 11 times more likely, says Dr. Mark DeBoer, assistant professor at the University of Virginia. A 2008 "Time" article revealed that nine out of 10 overweight kids -- not just obese ones -- already have at least one harbinger of heart disease. In a study presented to the International Congress on Obesity in 2010, researchers revealed that males who begin adulthood obese have twice the chance of dying prematurely compared to the non-obese.

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/fast-food-affects-nutrition-teens-4167.html

Fast food 4: Fast Food's Immediate Damage To Your Health Posted: 12/03/2012 8:42 am EST | Updated: 12/03/2012 8:42 am EST

By Kristin Kirkpatrick, R.D. for YouBeauty.com It's pretty doubtful that a person would sit in the drive-thru line of a fast-food chain and order a wellbalanced meal, full of fiber and nutrients. People in the drive-thru line are there because they are willing to compromise healthfulness for convenience and taste, which at the time seems worth the trade. For a long time, it appeared that the price that you pay for eating fast food occurred not at the cash register, but down the road, when the health ramifications associated with meals high in saturated fat and sodium took effect. But what if I told you that the consequences of eating your combo meal begin almost immediately after you crumble the wrapper of your burger? What if every time you enter a fast food restaurant, you exit a little unhealthier and a little less attractive? Would the juicy double bacon cheeseburger be worth it? Researchers and health professionals have long been aware of the consequences associated with eating fast food, but until now, no one realized how quickly the damage begins. A new study, published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, indicates that damage to the arteries occurs almost immediately after just one -- thats right, one -- junk food-type meal. Based on the science, moderation with junk food doesnt really exist. The study compared the effects of a junk food meal and a Mediterranean based meal on the inner lining of the blood vessels. They tested this impact on 28 healthy, non-smoking men between 18 and 50 years old. The men were fed a Mediterranean-based meal -- with eight grams of saturated fat and two grams of omega-3 fatty acids -- which consisted of salmon, almonds and vegetables baked in olive oil. One week later, the subjects consumed 15 grams of saturated fat and zero grams of omega-3s from a fast food sausage, egg and cheese muffin sandwich and three hash browns.

The researchers collected their data by measuring the mens endothelial function -- the ability of the blood vessels to dilate -- after a 12-hour fast and again two and four hours after finishing each meal. The results were not pretty! Almost immediately after eating one fast food sausage, egg and cheese sandwich, the mens arteries dilated 24 percent less than when the subjects were in a fasted state. Poor endothelial function is a significant precursor of atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries that can block blood flow. This study provides evidence that endothelial function declines after consuming only one junk food meal. With that in mind, can you imagine the arterial damage from consistently consuming one fast food egg muffin every day? Isnt it time we assess the true value of that value meal? Not only is it important for you to eat pretty, but the same also holds true for children. A new study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that children and adolescents both consume more calories and fewer nutrients the rest of the day after eating at fast food or full-service restaurants. On days that kids ate fast food, compared to days that they ate at home, adolescents and young children consumed an additional 309 and 126 calories, respectively. The study also found that eating at full-service restaurants increased childrens average intake of sugar, total fat, saturated fat and sodium. Based on the current evidence, there is a strong correlation that exists between eating out, consuming more calories and fewer nutrients and an increased risk of childhood obesity and chronic disease. Want to improve your health and beauty and the wellbeing of your family? Steer clear of fast food restaurants and start redefining your familys idea of fast food. Make your own version of fast food by preparing quick snacks and meals that you can grab on the go. Give your food pantry a beauty makeover by simply making healthy foods -- such as fruits, vegetable, nuts and whole grain snacks -- more convenient and readily accessible. Enhancing the convenience of healthy food reduces your desire to reach for the bad stuff, while allowing your family to continue living vivaciously and of course, beautifully. Brigid Titgemeier, B.A., contributed to this article.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/fast-food-health-arteries-beauty_n_2198725.html

Fast food 5: A single junk food meal damages arteries leading to increased risk for heart disease Saturday, November 03, 2012 by: John Phillip (NaturalNews) The knowledge that junk foods such as bacon cheeseburgers, fries, shakes, donuts and chips are detrimental to your health is no new revelation. These foods are packed with hydrogenated trans-fats, refined carbohydrates and sugars that boost blood pressure, increase blood glucose and flood cells with dysfunctional advanced glycation end products (AGE's) that lead to suboptimal cellular function, genetic mutations and metabolic havoc. Many people may be surprised to find out just how detrimental eating highly processed foods developed in a factory are to overall health, even when consumed infrequently. A research team from the University of Montreal in Canada has published the result of a study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology that shows how eating a single junk food meal composed mainly of saturated fat is detrimental to the health of the arteries. They also found that no damage occurs after consuming a Mediterranean meal rich in good fats such as mono-and polyunsaturated fatty acids. One junk food meal decreases vessel elasticity by nearly one-quarter to increase heart attack risk Medical researchers have been studying the effects of different foods on the endothelium, the critical inner lining of the arteries that regulates the elasticity of vessels and rushes oxygenated blood to the cardiac muscle. Elevated, oxidized LDL cholesterol and triglycerides from a junk food diet causes the endothelium to become unstable, and elevated blood pressure results in micro cracks that can accumulate foamy plaque that burst leading to a heart attack. Researchers developed a cohort of 28 healthy, non-smoking men who initially ate a Mediterranean-type meal and were then fed a junk food-type meal one week later. At the outset of the study, each participant underwent an ultrasound to determine endothelial function. The men first ate healthy foods including salmon, almonds, and vegetables cooked in olive oil. They were then subjected to a junk food meal including a sandwich made of a sausage, an egg, and a slice of cheese, and three hash browns. Each had an ultrasound at two and four hour intervals after eating to determine endothelial function. The study team found that after eating the junk food meal, the arteries of the study participants dilated 24 percent less than they did when in the fasting state. In contrast, the arteries were found to dilate normally and maintain good blood flow after the Mediterranean-type meal. Study leader, Dr. Anil Nigam concluded "These results will positively alter how we eat on a daily basis. Poor endothelial function is one of the most significant precursors of atherosclerosis. It is now something to think about at every meal." This study represents just one of many research bodies demonstrating that even small dietary indiscretions have potentially lethal consequences and can dramatically increase heart disease risk. http://www.naturalnews.com/037815_junk_food_arteries_heart_disease.html