People eat fast foods when they are out on the go, socializing or they just want to grab something quick to eat. The problem with eating fast food is the amount of time it is eaten. Eating fast food once in a while is okay, but eating fast food regularly has been attributed to weight gain, increased cholesterol and increased insulin resistance. According to a study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the high consumption of fast food has been associated with elevated risk of type-2 diabetes and weight gain.
What is Fast Food?
Fast food is pre-prepared, inexpensive food that can be purchased at fast food restaurants, street carts, vending machines or corner stores. These foods are often saturated with fats, salt, sugar and refined carbohydrates. Some fast foods are portioned small, but contain large amounts of carbohydrates from simple sugars and refined flour. All of these elements can contribute to significant health problems in the future.
Too Many Calories
According to the Center for Young Women's Health, fast food is not considered "bad food" although it may contain a high caloric intake. Calories are energy that your body utilizes for proper functioning. In addition to being used as fuel for your body, calories are also stored up as fat. If you are not active, the calories that are stored as fat will remain fat. According to MayoClinic 3,500 calories equal about one pound. Some cheeseburgers contain over 1,000 calories and added to the foods you eat during the rest of the day can contribute significantly to weight gain.
High Fat Content
Fast food is often fried and contains saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol. These fats contribute to heart disease, diabetes, increased blood cholesterol and weight gain. According to "Science Daily," diets that are rich in trans fat alone contributes to increased abdominal fat and an increase in overall body weight.
Salt and Sodium Content
Salt and sodium are needed by the body to regulate the blood pressure and the blood volume, but too much can cause health problems and bloating. Although salt or sodium doesn't contribute to long-term weight gain, it does contribute to temporary weight gain in the form of bloating -- water retention -- and hypertension. According to MedlinePlus, the daily recommendation for sodium consumption is 2,300 mg.
Sugar
Some fast foods, such as doughnuts, pie, cake or ice cream, contain large quantities of sugar. Simple sugars quickly raise blood glucose, which causes insulin in the blood to rise rapidly and this can cause weight gain. The body takes the amount of glucose it needs and the rest is converted to fat, according to MayoClinic. Refined flour, used in buns and the breading on fried foods, has a similar effect.
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