On average, a burger from a fast-food chain contains 36–40% of your daily energy needs and this does not account for any chips or drinks consumed with it ( Figure 1). A burger typically contains carbohydrates from the bun, proteins and fats from the beef patty, and fats from the cheese and sauce. Let us take the example of eating a hamburger. However, when we eat junk foods, we are consuming high amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, which are quickly absorbed by the body. Getting the proper nutrition is very important during our teenage years. There are also vitamins and minerals in food that support good health, growth, and development. What Happens to Our Bodies Shortly After We Eat Junk Foods?įood is made up of three major nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Another study examining YouTube videos popular amongst children reported that 38% of all ads involved a food or beverage and 56% of those food ads were for junk foods. Elite athletes like cricket players are not fuelling their bodies with fried chicken, burgers, and fries! A study showed that adolescents aged 12–17 years view over 14.4 million food advertisements in a single year on popular websites, with cakes, cookies, and ice cream being the most frequently advertised products. In Australia, cricket, one of our favorite sports, is sponsored by a big fast-food brand. Young people are often the targets of sneaky advertising tactics by junk food companies, which show our heroes and icons promoting junk foods.
According to the dietary guidelines of Australian and many other countries, these five food groups are grains and cereals, vegetables and legumes, fruits, dairy and dairy alternatives, and meat and meat alternatives. Junk foods are also known as discretionary foods, which means they are “not needed to meet nutrient requirements and do not belong to the five food groups”. Australian teenagers aged 14–18 years get more than 40% of their daily energy from these types of foods, which is concerning. Unfortunately, junk foods provide lots of calories and energy, but little of the vital nutrients our bodies need to grow and be healthy, like proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
These are typically highly processed foods, meaning several steps were involved in making the food, with a focus on making them tasty and thus easy to overeat. Junk foods include foods like burgers, fried chicken, and pizza from fast-food restaurants, as well as packaged foods like chips, biscuits, and ice-cream, sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, fatty meats like bacon, sugary cereals, and frozen ready meals like lasagne. Life can be jam-packed when you are juggling school, sport, and hanging with friends and family! Junk food companies make food convenient, tasty, and affordable, so it has largely replaced preparing and eating healthy homemade meals. Junk food can contribute to obesity and yet it is becoming a part of our everyday lives because of our fast-paced lifestyles. The world is currently facing an obesity epidemic, which puts people at risk for chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
In this article, we explore the scientific evidence behind both the short-term and long-term impacts of junk food consumption on our health. Young people are bombarded with unhealthy junk-food choices daily, and this can lead to life-long dietary habits that are difficult to undo. Energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, otherwise known as junk foods, have never been more accessible and available.
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