In a single fast food meal, you can easily take in more calories than you'll expend in a day. By repeating this often, you'll gain weight, and if you persist, you may become obese, or achieve a body mass index of 30 or higher. For instance, according to the USDA Nutrient Database, a regular cheeseburger, french fries and 16 oz. cola have 915 calories. Super-sized, they deliver 1,231, and with a hot fudge sundae for dessert, the meal totals 1,389 -- nearly 70 percent of your daily allowance on an average 2,000-calorie diet. Obesity caused by a poor diet can limit your mobility and quality of life and create serious negative health effects, even at a young age.
Heart Disease
According to the American Heart Association, foods that are high in saturated and trans fats and cholesterol, such as high-calorie burgers, fries and ice cream, cause negative effects on the cardiovascular system. Obese people have a greater risk for high blood pressure and atherosclerosis, two diseases that can be exacerbated by eating a poor diet with lots of salt content as well as fat and cholesterol. As heart disease progresses, the blood vessels clog, and blood clots can form that may cause fatal heart attacks and strokes.
Diabetes
Carrying extra pounds means that you're more likely to contract type 2 diabetes, according to the American Heart Association. Diabetics have an even greater risk for negative cardiovascular health effects than obese non-diabetics. Type 2 diabetes cannot be cured and requires insulin medication and dietary management daily. Eating fast foods can upset blood sugar levels and cause hyperglycemia, a serious diabetic reaction.
Respiratory Health Effects
Large amounts of dietary fat, salt, sugar and cholesterol displace the more beneficial nutrients. As you get fewer vitamins and minerals to support circulatory and respiratory function, eating high-calorie fast foods actually decreases your exercise tolerance. When your physical activity level drops, you'll have more difficulty losing weight, which may have chronic respiratory health effects. The Office of the Surgeon General records a higher incidence of asthma and sleep apnea breathing problems in obese individuals.
Cancer
While fast food doesn't cause cancer, becoming obese from a consistently poor diet increases your chances for certain types of cancer. The Office of the Surgeon General lists colon, kidney, gall bladder, prostate, uterine and postmenopausal breast cancers as those proven to be associated with obesity.
Arthritis
The Office of the Surgeon General says that obese people have a greater probability of getting arthritis. As the American Heart Association notes, continuing to gain weight from a poor diet can hasten arthritic joint degeneration.
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