Fast food is cheap and convenient, two factors that make it particularly attractive. Unfortunately, that comes with a price. If you eat fast food only once in a while and in moderate amounts, you should be fine. Problems might arise if fast food becomes your main source of nutrition or if you start eating larger and larger portions.
Lack of Nutrients
Fast food is notoriously devoid of fruits and vegetables. A sandwich might have a slice of tomato or a few leaves of lettuce, but that's usually where it ends. Even salads available at fast-food places aren't much better. A fast-food restaurant will typically offer a small, basic garden salad that includes just lettuce, carrots and tomato with your choice of dressing, as well as a larger version of the same salad that simply includes cheese and either grilled and or fried chicken. If you regularly eat at fast food places, you'll be missing on important nutrients, such as fiber and vitamins A and C, found mostly in fruits and vegetables.
Fat Content
During a 2006 study, researchers from the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center discovered that a diet high in trans fats causes more weight gain than a diet high in healthy, unsaturated fats. This is true even if both diets contain the same amount of calories. Trans fats are the most common fats found in fast foods, especially fried foods.
Obesity Risk
Probably the most obvious risk of eating fast food is weight gain. Fast food is not necessarily the cause of the obesity problem in America, but it can certainly contribute to it. Fast food is high in fat, calories and sugars. Coupled with a sedentary lifestyle and the fact that portions are getting larger and larger, it's no surprise that eating fast food can lead to weight gain. In theory, you could eat fast food and lose weight, if you choose small portions and avoid fried foods and high-calorie sauces and extras. However, if you choose the larger portions and eat indiscriminately, the risk of obesity does go up.
Considerations
Occasionally consuming fast food in moderate amounts should not be detrimental to your health -- especially if you make smart choices. Some fast food restaurants offer a few healthy choices if you're willing to dig into their menus. At burger chains, you can choose a baked potato over fries to save on fat and calories. You can also choose a yogurt parfait or egg on a muffin as a breakfast option. They're not necessarily nutritious options, but they're healthier than other foods offered on the menu.
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