Junk food is a consistent staple in the diet of Americans, with foods like cookies, French fries, chips, soda, candy and ice cream in most cabinets, fridges or freezers across the country. Junk foods contribute to problems with weight, especially when not consumed in moderation. Unfortunately, the pounds can be packed on in several different places on your body, including your back side.
Calories
One of the main issues with junk food, as far as weight and fat distribution is concerned, is the high level of calories it contains. Junk foods are often stacked with sugars or processed ingredients which provide little nutrition for the amount of calories you consume. As you finish off a bag of chips while sitting in front of the television or go back for a second serving of cake and ice cream, your daily calorie intake starts to increase significantly.
Calorie Surplus
When you take in too many calories from junk food, you increase your risk for a calorie surplus. A calorie surplus occurs when you take in more calories than you burn through regular body functions -- like breathing and your heart rate -- or through exercise. When you build up a calorie surplus of 3,500 calories, you have the potential of gaining a pound of fat. This especially becomes a problem if you are still eating the same amount of other foods during the day on top of your junk food, which can quickly add up calories over the course of a year.
Adipose Tissue
When you create a calorie surplus, your body often reacts by saving the surplus calories for later use as fat on your body. The fat can then be broken down into glucose, which is used by the body when you have a calorie deficit instead of a calorie surplus. Excess calories are stored as fat in your adipose tissue. Fat can be distributed in different amounts in different areas where adipose tissue is present depending on your genetics. However, the body has a propensity for storing fat in places like your chest, belly, thighs and buttocks. If you are genetically predisposed to have more fat stores on your back side, this can result in a larger butt.
Lack of Exercise
The effects of junk food on fat storage can be increased substantially if you're not at least meeting the Centers for Disease Control recommended 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise each week. Aerobic activity like walking, jogging, biking or swimming increases the amount of calories you burn. This helps prevent a calorie surplus from forming, reducing the chances that your body will store fat in your adipose tissue. In fact, enough exercise mixed with a healthier diet will actually create a calorie deficit, which can help burn off excess fat from your butt.
References
- Reuters; Junk Food Addiction May Be Clue to Obesity; JoAnne Allen; March, 2010
- Science Daily: Adipose Tissue
- Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine and Science; Adipose Tissue; Ann L. Albright and Judith S. Stern
- Medline Plus: Lipocytes (Fat Cells)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: How Much Physical Activity Do Adults Need?
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