Junk food

DR. SUBHA RANJAN
JUNIOR RESIDENT
COMMUNITY MEDICINE
N.M.C. ,PATNA

Junk food is an informal term applied to some foods
that are perceived to have little or no nutritional value
( containing "empty calories"), or to products with
nutritional value but which also have ingredients
considered unhealthy when regularly eaten, or to those
considered unhealthy to consume at all.
What is junk food
The term was coined by Michael Jacobson,
director of the Centre of Science in Public Interest
in 1972 .

We use the terms FAST FOOD, JUNK FOOD ,STREET FOOD
interchangeably. These overlap each other in many ways
yet are different.
FAST FOOD
-Term given to food that is prepared and served very quickly.
-Typically the term refers to food sold in chain of fast food restaurants
-Type of junk food
STREET FOOD
-Obtained from a cart, truck parked on a street, temporary stands
at market places/ fairs
-Strong cultural ties.
-At times it can be fresher and healthier.
-Made from local ingredients.
Like samosas, mommos, chats etc.

Saturated fat, sugar & salt.
Little or no fruit, vegetables, or dietary fiber.
Little proteins , vitamins and minerals
Includes highly processed food items.
 Common junk foods include salted snack foods (chips, crisps),
candy, gum, most sweet desserts, fried fast food and carbonated
beverages (sodas) as well as alcoholic beverages, popcorns, pizzas,
burgers, hamburgers.
Depends on ingredients and preparation method
WHAT JUNK FOOD CONTAINS?

WHY JUNK FOOD IS
LIKED?
Time factor-easy to prepare/ being
served at door hot and ready to eat/
when in hurry.
Taste factor-influences one to opt it.
Great taste it has owing to lavish use of
oils, salt, sugar.
More appealing /attractive to children
A lot is spent by companies in
advertising
For companies/restaurants they are cheap to
make, easy to handle, easy to store, stock and
sell, has extended shelf life.

LACK OF ENERGY AND FATIGUE-This is
known as a short-term adverse effect resulting
from eating junk foods. As it doesn't provide you
with essential nutrients, even though they can be
very much sufficing, you feel weakened.
LACK OF CONCENTRATION-
These are traced to affect in immediate and
medium term periods. When you have a junk
meal rich in oil you feel drowsy and fail to
concentrate. Over due course of time ,blood circulation
drops due to fat accumulation. Lack of vital oxygen,
nutrients and proteins particularly can stale your brain
cells temporarily.

HEART PROBLEMS-
Junk food is a major cause of heart diseases.
- Myocardial infarction
-Hypertension
-Atherosclerosis
-Peripheral vascular diseases
-Ischemic heart diseases
HIGH CHOLESTEROL LEVEL-
Apart from forming plaques and constricting arteries,
cholesterol also affects liver where it is metabolized. High
cholesterol from junk food and diet strains liver damaging it
eventually. This is a long term effect.

OBESITY-
-Occurs as more fat, carbohydrate, processed
sugar, and less fiber is consumed.
-187 extra calories per day, leading to 6 pounds
additional gain in wt. /year
-Increases risk of other diseases.
DIABETES-
-Increases insulin levels
-Chronically insulin resistance develops and type
2 diabetes sets in.
-Increasing incidence in teenagers.
NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES-
-Vitamin deficiencies
-Anaemia
-Osteoporosis

DEPRESSION-
-Hormonal changes at puberty make teens
susceptible to mood swings and behavioral
changes.
-A healthy diet keeps the hormonal level on
an even whereas junk food fails.
-58% increase in risk of depression
GASTROINTESTINAL EFFECTS-
-Nausea, vomiting
-diarrhea, constipation, bloating of stomach
-Lack of appetite, stomach ache
-peptic ulcers

JUNK FOOD ADDICTION
 Studied in rat population- they overeat these foods.
When taken off these diet they refused to eat healthier
foods. During pregnancy increased intake ,increases
chances of unhealthy eating habits in offspring.
 Assumed to be similar to drug addiction in humans.
 Possibility that neurotransmitter(like dopamine) in brain
may be influenced by habitual eating pattern
 Once caught in junk food addiction , one find it hard
to think about loss of nutrition junk food pushes us
into.

HOW TO REDUCE JUNK
FOOD INTAKE
Act as healthy example. Do not
eat in front of children, let them see you eat healthy
and balanced meals made at home
Explain that eating junk food is unhealthy and will
pose problem to their health.
Eliminate packaged and processed snack food
from kitchen and do not purchase. Stock it with
healthy snacks like dried apricots, dates, resins etc.
Keep homemade lemonade, fresh juice, pured fruits.
Cook healthy alternative like baked fries, chicken
nuggets, healthy chips.

Keep healthy snacks handy to children. Make
food more appealing, easy to eat with fingers
Don’t ban junk food. This makes it more
attractive and indulge when gets opportunity to
eat.
Teach moderation and permit to eat small
amount
Don’t use as bargaining,/rewarding/bribing tool.
This makes it more appealing.
Discourage viewing TV ads.
Cont..

In an attempt to reduce saturated fat
consumption, from Dec. 2011 to Nov
2012 Denmark introduced the first fat
food tax in the world(food
>2.3%saturated fat)
Hungary has also imposed tax on
packaged foods containing unhealthy
concentrations (>20 mg. caffeine/100ml)
Norway taxes refined sugar
Mexico has various excises on unhealthy
food

WHAT IS HEALTHY JUNK FOOD?
 Created as a healthier alternative/imitation of junk food
products by food industries/companies /restaurants.
 Claimed to be made with healthier ingredients, low fats,
free of trans fats, sugar free, fortified with vitamins and
having low calories.
 Options like baked potato chips, whole wheat bread for
sandwiches, salads, diet soda with zero calories, sugar
free soda, dessert like yogurt.
 Critics associated- may be a marketing policy.

A healthy diet is one that helps maintain or improve health. It
involves consuming appropriate amounts of all nutrients, and
an adequate amount of water. A healthy diet needs to have a
balance of macronutrients / energy ( fats, proteins, and
carbohydrates ) and micronutrients to meet the needs for
human nutrition without inducing toxicity from excessive
amount. It is important for the prevention of many chronic
health risks such as: obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and
cancer.

HOW TO COMPARE JUNK FOOD
TO HEALTHY FOOD
Observe the fat content on the label
(total, saturated, unsaturated, trans).
Total calories derived from fats.
Review the cholesterol content.
Take into account the sodium content.
Check the sugar content and type(refined
/natural sugar)
Note vitamins, minerals ,dietary fiber content.
Healthy foods tend to be less processed ,has
less but important and often easily recognizable
ingredients.

1. Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods
2. Enjoy plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables
3. Maintain a healthy weight
4. Eat moderate portions
5. Eat regular meals
6. Reduce, don't eliminate certain foods
7. Balance your food choices over time
8. Know your diet pitfalls
9. Make changes gradually.
10. Select foods based on your total eating patterns, not
on any other individual food .

THANK YOU
“The greatest wealth is health”.

Junk food

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