A poor diet can have as many calories as a nutritious diet, or more, if you regularly indulge in fast foods. The high calorie loads of submarine sandwiches, cheeseburgers, tacos and French fries--all over 500 calories, per the USDA Nutrient Database--accompany high levels of fat, salt and/or cholesterol. Desserts and beverages other than diet soda, such as milkshakes and regular colas, add sugar along with calories. The USDA Dietary Guidelines report that excessive amounts of these nutrients can cause health problems as well as deficiencies in beneficial vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
Becoming Overweight
Weight gain might be the first consequence of eating fast food. A poor diet that is heavy on meat, sweets and fried foods leaves less space on your plate for healthy veggies, fruit and whole grains, so that you can actually have less metabolic energy in the presence of more calories.
Taking in more calories than you burn results in fat storage and extra pounds. Over time, being overweight or obese can endanger your respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, reproductive and skeletal systems, the Office of the Surgeon General reports. Health problems can include asthma, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, pregnancy complications and arthritis.
Risking Cancer, Diabetes and Arthritis
Continual weight gain from eating fast foods can lead to obesity, or a body mass index of 30 or higher. The greater demands on your body combined with the low nutritional value of a poor diet raise your risk for many chronic health problems.
According to the Office of the Surgeon General, gaining between 11 and 18 lb. doubles your chance of getting type 2 diabetes, an incurable disease that may cause additional health problems. Similar weight gain increases your risk for colon, kidney and other cancers. Every 2 lb. gained raises your risk for arthritis by up to 13 percent.
Developing Heart Disease
Obesity increases your chances for getting heart disease, the Office of the Surgeon General warns. Even if you don't eat enough fast food to become overweight, you may still develop cardiovascular problems. A poor diet with high sodium content from salty foods can raise your blood pressure. When this condition persists, your heart must work harder and may lose function.
The American Heart Association notes that high blood pressure can be exacerbated by high blood cholesterol levels, to which drive-thru entrees, sides and sweets contribute. As the blood vessels become clogged with cholesterol's plaque buildup, atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, arises. Either of these conditions can lead to heart disease, which may include potentially fatal heart attack, heart failure and stroke.
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