Food is a very important determinant of the health status of an individual, thus the quality of food consumed impacts directly on the quality of health. A good diet quality equals a significant decrease in disease prevalence across all ages. The implication of this is that regular consumption of fast foods, with a frequency of twice a week, poses serious implications on health in general and predisposes one to the diseases associated with a poor quality diet. The current trend in lifestyle demonstrates that there is an increased inclination towards consuming fast foods as compared to home-made foods and research has demonstrated that these people are at a high risk of developing the associated health complications, while decreased rates of fast food consumption is associated with good health and reduced risks of diseases.
To start with, fast foods have high levels of fat and this is associated with an increased body mass index (BMI), and consequently, weight gain more than the average recommended weight gain and associated risk of developing obesity. This association between weight gain and obesity has been reported in various epidemiological studies. (Jaworowska et al. 312). These studies show that consumption of fast foods more than twice in a week results in a prevalence of 31% of abdominal obesity among men and 25% in women. This is attributed to the high levels of energy found in fast foods: 56 kcal/day for adults and 187 kcal/day among children. Therefore, frequent consumption of fast foods would result in weight gain of about 0.72 kilograms in a period of 3 years and a cumulative 4.5 kgs in a timespan of 15 years (Jaworowska et al.312). this is way above the recommended weight gain in that period of time. Moreover, a high intake of fats and fatty acids is associated with fast foods consumption. This is because fat is not effective in exerting a satiating effect, and this prompts one to exceed the required amount per day. Also, a meal that is rich in fat does not facilitate the oxidation of lipids, and this promotes an accumulation of even more fats in the adipose tissue resulting in weight gain and hence obesity.
In addition to obesity, fast foods are also associated with adverse pathological effects on the body. Epidemiological studies on this and various dietary intervention approaches have demonstrated that “a diet rich in SFAs is associated with a higher risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.” (Jaworowska et al. 313). In another multinational survey conducted on this concept, results were consistent with the previous results, that those diagnosed with diabetes type 2 also had very high intakes of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in their diets and this attributed to the frequent consumption of fast foods (Jaworowska et al. 313). Also, a higher intake of SFAs found in fast foods is closely predisposed one to risks of cancers such as prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women. SFA is a major component of palm oil that is widely used for frying most fast foods, such as fries, due to its desirable flavor.
Fast foods are also the source of trans fatty acids associated with various adverse physiologic effects on the body, such as, “systemic inflammation, diabetes, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, decreased LDL particle size, decreased HDL-C and apolipoprotein A1 concentrations, and increased total cholesterol, lipoprotein (a) and apolipoprotein B levels.” (Jaworowska et al. 314). Trans fatty acids result from the partial hydrogenation of fats, found in fast foods like French fries and pies. Consequently, a higher intake of TFAs is closely associated with an increase in the concentration of markers of systemic inflammation as well as a dysfunction of the endothelium. The body requires optimum levels of substances, like insulin, in order to function well and any alteration in the level of fats predisposes one to these risks. For instance, insulin resistance by the body is the result of high fats and sugar intake, which are converted to glucose by the body. When the level of glucose is higher than normal for consecutive days, insulin becomes resistant and fails to regulate the blood glucose levels, resulting in type 2 diabetes. This is draining in terms of finances, due to the cost of medication required to keep the blood glucose in check.
Furthermore, frequent consumption of fast foods becomes a habit that tracks from adolescence into adulthood. In a study conducted among the American youth, results showed that the prevalence of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increased as time went by. In a span of almost of 20 years, the results showed that there was a significant increase in consumption of sweet beverages and a decrease in consumption of milk (Luce 282). This trend witnessed especially among children and adolescents signifies that sweetened beverages are preferred over nutritious beverages and that this trend continues into adulthood. The overall effect of this is that the body would be denied the essential nutrients found in nutritious beverages such as milk, and this in turn predisposes the body to diseases since the body’s immune system is not well catered for.
Additionally, epidemiologic evidence further indicates that regular fast foods consumption impacts negatively on the cardiovascular system of the body, and this linked to weight gain and insulin resistance. This high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is caused by an impaired endothelial function coupled with oxidative stress that results from consumption of meals rich in fat and low in vitamins (Mozaffarian et al.1603). These two factors are the leading causes of the development of atherosclerosis, which is a prerequisite of CVD. This may be fatal if a change in diet is not affected, and may result in cardiac failure and eventually death.
From the discussion, it is clear that fast foods impact very negatively on the wellbeing and the general health of the body. However, it is important to note that the consumption of fast foods in a regulated manner would help reduce the aforementioned effects. Thus, a frequency of once or twice a month would not be as harmful. It is also important to note that fast foods come in handy when one is in a rush and they can not get enough time to prepare their homemade meals, such as a student rushing to class or a single mom who has to take her kids to school on time and report to work on time. Therefore, a regulated consumption of fast foods would not be as harmful, but this should not be made a habit. the type and quality of food that we consume impact directly on our health and disease prevalence, thus a regulated consumption of fast foods would be key in avoiding the health implications mentioned herein.
