Teens growing addicted to junk food
July 29th, 2011 - 12:46 am ICT by IANSWashington, July 28 (IANS) Fast food joints, sprouting up in your neighbourhood, are not healthy signs for your teenaged son or daughter. They tempt and habituate kids into snacking regularly on burgers, fries and sodas.
A study by the University of California-Los Angeles Centre for Health Policy Research, investigated the effect of junk food on adolescents.
“You are what you eat. You are, also, where you live,” said Susan Babey, study co-author and senior research scientist at the Centre for Health, according to a statement.
“And if you live in a place where there’s a fast food restaurant or convenience store on every block, with few healthier alternatives, you are likely to eat more junk,” Babey said.
Consequently, 75 percent of California teens live or go to school in neighbourhoods taken over by junk food outlets, relative to the number of healthier food outlets, such as grocery stores, produce vendors and farmers markets.
And unsurprisingly, teens who live or go to school in such neighbourhoods are more likely to drink soda and eat fast food.
Research has shown that the consumption of fast food and soda has been linked to taking in excess calories and can contribute to diabetes and obesity.
- Meals offered by fast food chains as healthy options 'not so healthy' - Sep 11, 2010
- Teen-agers follow parental example in gorging on fast foods - Feb 10, 2009
- Blame parents for teen obesity crisis - Feb 10, 2009
- Eating junk food as addictive as drugs - Oct 01, 2010
- Dr Oz: 7 Days to Boost Weight Loss & Cut Carb Cravings - Oct 11, 2011
- Free statins with fast food could neutralize heart risk - Aug 13, 2010
- Teens junking healthy lifestyle kiss happiness away - Mar 04, 2012
- Fast-food outlets offer children free super size meals in mailouts - Dec 05, 2010
- Students campaign against junk food - Dec 19, 2011
- Moving closer to outdoor recreation won't help you lose weight - Sep 25, 2010
- Junk food: High Court seeks guidelines - Jan 11, 2012
- Junk foods should be out of school canteens: NGO - Nov 09, 2010
- Your popular snack could be making you ill: Study - Mar 30, 2012
- Organic food helps people live longer - May 21, 2011
- What makes for more healthy eggs? - Aug 04, 2011
Tags: babey, burgers, california los angeles, california teens, co author, convenience store, effect of junk food, excess calories, farmers markets, fast food restaurant, food joints, food outlets, food research, grocery stores, health policy research, neighbourhood, neighbourhoods, research scientist, sodas, university of california los angeles