What Are The Causes Of An Unhealthy Diet?

The world turned a dubious corner in the early 21st century. According to the World Health Organization, as of 2009, more people were likely to die of obesity-related causes than from malnutrition-related causes. In other words, more people will eat themselves to death than will starve. Change is clearly needed, and it starts with understanding the causes of an unhealthy diet.

Expense

If you've ever gone through financial hardship, you know that one of the first things to get the axe is the food budget. Some people eat unhealthy foods because they cannot afford to do otherwise. In a research brief titled "Can Low-Income Americans Afford a Healthy Diet," the University of Washington's Center for Public Health and Nutrition examined the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Thrifty Food Plan, which recommends healthy foods for low-income people and is the basis for food stamp payments.

The university found that the low-cost, nutritious foods suggested by the USDA are prohibitively inconvenient. These foods, according the university, require between six and 19 hours per week to purchase and prepare. The average low-income working mother, by contrast, has just five hours per week to shop and cook. The study's sad conclusion was that low-income women were being forced to choose between cooking healthy foods and keeping their jobs.

Pressure from Significant Others

If you are in a relationship, you might have run into the "food-pusher" phenomenon. Pressure from significant others is the primary reason why diets and healthy eating plans fail, according to Registered Dietician Cynthia Sass, author of "Your Diet is Driving Me Crazy." Sass explains that many partners don't always like it when those they love abruptly decide to change their eating habits.

Partners of dieters often feel personally rejected or ignored when cherished rituals, such as Friday night at the pizza joint, are no longer acceptable. Sometimes, says Sass, partners resort to pressure, bullying or guilt to get things back to "normal." Often, the dieter gives up rather than fight about it.

Believe Current Diet is Already Healthy Enough

If you think you don't need to eat healthier, check the guidelines just to be sure. According to Cambridge University in England, 71 percent of people who live in the European Union feel their diets are as healthy as they are. Although data from all 15 EU countries was not available, citizens of two EU countries are wrong about their eating habits. According to the Cambridge report, only 1 percent of the citizens of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are actually meeting all the nutrition recommendations in their respective countries.

Resistance to Change

If you've ever been frustrated by a person who simply will not stop eating chips for lunch, you're not alone. A final reason some people have an unhealthy diet is that they simply do not want to eat in a healthier manner. Cambridge University in England reported that among European Union countries, 15 percent of respondents said they simply did not want to change their lifestyles, while 23 percent stated they believed following a healthy diet would require them to give up favorite foods, and they were unwilling to do that.