How Junk Food Affects Your Child

Medical Video: The Ill Effects of Fast Food on Children That Every Parent Needs to Know

Junk food can be very attractive for various reasons, including comfort, price and taste. For children who do not understand the health consequences of their eating habits, junk food it will look a thousand times more appetizing. However, consume it junk food can be addictive to children and cause complications such as obesity, chronic illness, feelings of inferiority and even depression, and affect their activities in school.

Energy and focus

According to Women 's and Children' s Health Network, food has a significant effect on children's learning habits. Junk food and high-sugar foods deplete energy levels and the ability to concentrate for a long time. Energy and an important focus for school-age children. Children form the basis for their lifelong habits during their developmental years, so that junk food very dangerous for their development.

Physical activity is also important for children of all ages and junk food does not provide nutrients needed by children for sufficient energy in their physical activities. Lack of physical activity is harmful to physical and mental health, besides being able to disturb children from the development of their social life.

Risk of obesity

A study published in "Pediatrics" in 2004 found that consumption of fast food in children was associated with causes of obesity. According to this study, children who eat fast food consume more amounts of calories, fat, carbohydrates and added sugar in one fast food meal. They also may lack consumption of fiber, milk, fruits, and vegetables compared to other children who do not eat fast food. Children who consume more foods that make fat when eating fast food also generally tend to eat more other unhealthy foods.

According to a statement released in the journal "Nature Neuroscience" in 2010, high-calorie foods can become addictive, causing children who sometimes eat fast food to experience eating problems later on. These factors cause children who regularly eat fast food experience an increased risk for obesity.

Chronic illness

According to the Prevention Institute, a number of experts prove that junk food has a huge contribution in increasing the rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. The increase in the level of chronic disease most affects children who regularly consume junk food. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) predicts that if this trend continues, one in three US adults will have diabetes by 2050. Diabetes can cause disability and premature death.

The Center for Food Safety notes that in 2012 US children suffering from obesity were also more likely to experience high cholesterol and heart disease later in life. According to Women 's and Children' s Health Network, changes can occur in children's bodies even when they are young where these changes are related to illness at an older age.

Confidence and depression

Self-confidence is very important for the growth of children, and regularly consume junk food have a negative impact on these two things. According to the magazine Kids Health Club, junk food can harm a child's physical development, including increasing unhealthy weight, which can lead to problems of self-confidence. Low self confidence can cause problems such as depression.

Nutritionists at MayoClinic.com also report eating junk food has the potential to cause depression. According to the journal American Family Physiciandepression (which can be very dangerous for children) has a negative impact on a child's growth and development, his activities in school and social relationships, and his peak can lead to suicide.

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