1. Home
  2. Stages

What junk food is really doing to your kid’s body

By

A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported kids and teens are eating more junk food than ever. Junk or fast food is a blanket term for foods delivering a quick burst of energy because of the high sugar, carb, and fat content, but doesn’t pack much in terms of vitamins, minerals, protein, or fiber. It turns out the 2020 CDC study found kids and teens got 13.8 percent of their daily calorie intake from junk food. Tweens and teens ages 12 to 19 ate more fast food calories than kids ages 2 to 11. Of course, when faced with a choice, most kids and adolescents prefer fast foods to healthier options, but what is the effect of junk food on kids?

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The lure of junk foods

Adults know it’s expensive to eat healthily. A trip to the grocery store confirms those sugary cereals are more budget-friendly than the whole-grain cereal a couple of aisles over in the health food section. Fast foods are quick and convenient, especially with those busy work-to-school-to-practice schedules many families do five out of seven days a week. While fast foods taste good in the short term, the long-term effects on the body are quite negative.

Recommended Videos

Heart disease

When kids and teens have a diet packed with fast foods, they have a higher risk of developing heart-related diseases later in life. According to Dr. Thomas A. Gaziano, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, unhealthy diets cost the healthcare system in the United States around 50 billion dollars a year. Forty-five percent of that is related to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes brought on by poor eating habits. Eating a lot of junk food is also tied to the growing rate of obesity in America. Obesity isn’t just an adult problem either. An alarming rate of kids and teens fall into the overweight or obese category. A study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine linked childhood obesity to cardiovascular disease in adults. Obese kids and adolescents typically have high cholesterol and blood pressure, which contribute to heart disease.

Obesity

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five kids and teens in the US are obese. Obesity is tied to unhealthy diets, including those including excessive fast foods and inactivity. The overall impact of obesity in children and teens is bad for the body, but it takes its toll on social and emotional well-being as well. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, obesity in kids and teens often goes hand in hand with low self-esteem and confidence in addition to depression. Overweight and obese children and adolescents often find themselves easy targets for bullies.

Atopic disorders

Asthma, eczema, and rhinitis fall into the category of atopic disorders caused by an intense reaction by the body to common allergens. Can a diet loaded with junk food cause an increased risk for atopic disorders like asthma? Absolutely. A study conducted on school-aged children back in 2013 showed teens who ate fast food three plus times a week had a 39 percent increased risk of severe asthmatic issues as did 27 percent of kids. Both groups also had a higher likelihood of experiencing eczema and allergic rhinitis than their counterparts who consumed fruit three or more times a week. Fruit-eating kids and teens showed a decreased risk of atopic disorders.

Constipation

Kids and teens may find constipation an embarrassing topic of conversation with parents, but the lack of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals also has an effect in the bathroom. The high sugar, calorie, fat, and carb content of junk food definitely doesn’t keep anyone regular.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Addicted to junk food

Can kids become addicted to junk food? Yes. Adults who have been trying to kick the sugar habit know it can be just as difficult as quitting smoking. Junk foods are loaded with processed sugar. Sugar actually releases a chemical in the brain, making eaters feel good according to a Mount Sinai study, which is why it can be so hard to say no to. Added sugar in junk foods like cereal and soda is a big contributing factor to weight gain and all the unhealthy things that come with it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people over the age of two only eat 200 calories or less of processed sugar. Processed sugar is of course found in all those tasty doughnuts, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, ice cream, and more falling under the umbrella label junk food.

Other issues linked to junk food

As if there aren’t already enough problems linked to fast food, sadly there are more. A diet rich in junk food is also tied to:

  • Poor grades
  • Less energy
  • Depression
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Hyperactivity

While kids and teens love junk food, the bottom line is that fast food doesn’t love them. It’s important for children and adolescents to develop healthy eating habits because it’s the key to keeping lots of health issues and more at bay. A diet packed with fast foods isn’t good for children, teens, or adults. While it tastes good, the long-term effect of junk food on kids isn’t. While parents can’t keep kids away from junk food 24/7, the key is moderation. Junk food shouldn’t be central to anyone’s diet, but especially when it comes to kids. Balance sweet treats with a majority of healthy foods and regular physical activity. Diets high in fruits and veggies benefit the entire family.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Dawn Miller
Contributor
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
When do babies sleep through the night (and what the answer means for your child)?
This is the first question new parents want to know

Every parent of a newborn has the same question after their first night with their precious new bundle of joy. When do babies sleep through the night? All it takes is those first sleepless 24 hours to wonder if you are ever going to sleep again. After a few days, you don't even remember when the last time you slept more than a few hours in one stretch was. We get it. Here's when babies sleep through the night, so you know when you will be done stumbling around in a zombie-like sleepless fog.
A baby's sleep schedule
Every baby is different, so if your babe isn't getting the exact amount of sleep by a certain age, it's not something to worry about. But there is a little guide to refer to.

Newborns up to 2 months old
Newborns do spend a decent amount of time sleeping. Unfortunately for the parents, it's not all at night. While babies less than 2 months old snooze up to 18 hours a day, with up to 10 of those hours being prime nighttime sleep hours, it isn't all at once.

Read more
These weight loss tips for teenagers really work and are good for their self-esteem
How to encourage a healthy lifestyle for your teen

Parents want nothing more for their kids than for them to be healthy and happy. When a teen is struggling with their weight, they can often feel unhealthy and suffer from mood swings and depression. Unfortunately, many teens assume their weight is their own problem to deal with alone. Teens often don't understand that weight fluctuations are a very normal part of growing up, and as long as they're healthy, they shouldn't stress over it. 

If your teen has expressed concern about their weight or general health, you can support them by incorporating lifestyle changes as a family. If you're struggling with how to help your teenager lose weight in a supportive and non-judgemental way, here are some weight loss plans for teenagers to help get their energy up and their fitness back on track.
What not to do

Read more
How old do you have to be to fly alone? Read this before booking your kid’s trip
Find out the right age for solo flying and other important facts

If you thought traveling with kids was stressful, try sending them off on a flight alone. For many parents, it's necessary to send their child on a flight by themselves, whether it's for a vacation, to visit a parent who lives far away, or for any number of reasons. If you find yourself in a position where your child may need to travel without you, you may ask yourself, "How old do you have to be to fly alone?"
All airlines have their own rules and regulations regarding unaccompanied minors, so parents or caregivers must be aware that there isn't one specific set of rules that applies to all airlines. Before booking any trip, parents need to ensure they know the airline's policy regarding how old they have to be to fly alone and be aware that there are often extra fees that apply when a child flies without an adult.

When can children fly alone?
Typically, airlines have unaccompanied minor policies in place for children between the ages of 5 and 14 years old, which means children under 5 are not allowed to fly solo, regardless of whether they're traveling with an older unaccompanied minor or not.

Read more