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America has an obesity problem, but there are more 200,000 fast foods restaurants dotted throughout the country. Customers have been moving towards places with healthier menus and many traditional chains are adding items to address this. I tried eating these "healthy" fast foods for an entire week. I had every meal at McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Burger King, Subway, Dunkin' Donuts or Chick-fil-A. Following is a full transcript of the video.

Kevin Reilly: Fast food is cheap and convenient. But hidden in between the burgers and tacos are some "healthy" options: salads, grilled chicken, yogurts, oatmeal, power burritos. Doesn't sound too bad, right? I spent a week eating nothing but these "healthy" fast foods and I lost six-and-a-half pounds. But even though I lost about a pound a day, it didn't really go well.

I live in New York City, a place with every possible food you could want. Eating healthy here, it's a breeze. But across America, there are more than 200,000 fast food joints, and they're bringing in more than $200 billion a year in sales. And no matter where you go, you're never far from a place like McDonald's or Taco Bell. But in recent years, consumers want better, healthier choices, and the traditional fast food places have been losing customers to those fast casual healthy options.

The rules were pretty simple: Eat every major meal at a national fast-food chain and stick to the healthy options. McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Dunkin' Donuts, Subway, and Chick-fil-A; nothing but them for a week. Yeah, I lost almost seven pounds, but let's take a close look at the numbers.

On a normal day, I'm eating around 2,500 calories. An adult man should be having about 2,400 to 2,600 calories a day. But on this fast food plan, my calories plummeted. Most of these meals came in under 400 calories, and that was one of my first problems. I'd eat and just a couple hours later, I was starving. And I had days when I didn't eat more than 1,000 calories.

Now, some of these meals were really good. My favorite was this grilled chicken market salad from Chick-fil-A. It had blueberries, strawberries, apples; it was delicious and it was actually healthy. However, a lot of the other salads from Burger King, McDonald's, and Wendy's were loaded with salt, often more than 50% of what I needed for the entire day, from a salad. In fact, excess salt was a problem the entire week. I thought I had hit the jackpot with Taco Bell's al Fresco menu. They take off all the cheese and mayo-based sauces and replace it with lettuce and pico de gallo. One night I got tacos, another night I got a power cantina burrito, and these were meals with more protein than usual. So, I felt like I was getting enough food. They were good, too good. It was all salt. In fact, just one burrito had almost as much salt as I needed in just one day. The American Heart Association says we should limit our sodium to about 2,300 milligrams a day, but the ideal is closer to 1,500 milligrams a day, especially for a person like me with high blood pressure. But if you look at my sodium intake, it was high every day, yet I was barely getting the calories I needed. If I wanted to keep the sodium down, I was starving. If I wanted to feel full, salt through the roof. You see, that's an issue in the fast food industry. Wendy's even acknowledges on their website that there's going to be a trade-off between salt and flavor.

It was weird. I didn't feel healthy at all throughout the week, even though I was eating healthy foods and losing weight. And on the last day, I had this massive headache that was just infuriating. These places, they're supposed to be tasty, cheap, and convenient. But it wasn't cheap. Every healthy option was expensive, but left me hungry. For eight grilled nuggets and this tiny kale salad at Chick-fil-A, $12. For the power Mediterranean salad at Wendy's, it was almost $8, yet I could get a cheeseburger, nuggets, fries, and a soda for only $4. That brings me to another problem. Walk into McDonald's and you get hit with that sweet, sweet french fry smell, and I had to get a salad.

Would I recommend this to anyone? Nope, unless you're stuck on the road with no other options. Though there was a bright spot: breakfast at Subway. They have these egg-white-and-cheese sandwiches, which I got covered in spinach and peppers. And let me tell you, it was good. But after all this, I just want a cheeseburger.

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I ate nothing but 'healthy' fast food for a week - here's what happened

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America has an obesity problem, but there are more 200,000 fast foods restaurants dotted throughout the country. Customers have been moving towards places with healthier menus and many traditional chains are adding items to address this. I tried eating these "healthy" fast foods for an entire week.

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What are the risks of Obesity

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One third of children in the U. S. is overweight or obese, and this number is continuing to rise. Children have fewer weight-related health and medical problems than adults. However, overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults, placing them at risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes later in life. They are also more prone to develop stress, sadness, and low self-esteem.

What Causes Obesity in Children?

Children become overweight and obese for a variety of reasons. The most common causes are genetic factors, lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of these factors. Only in rare cases is being overweight caused by a medical condition such as a hormonal problem. A physical exam and some blood tests can rule out the possibility of a medical condition as the cause for obesity.

Although weight problems run in families, not all children with a family history of obesity will be overweight. Children whose parents or brothers or sisters are overweight may be at an increased risk of becoming overweight themselves, but this can be linked to shared family behaviors such as eating and activity habits.

A child's total diet and activity level play an important role in determining a child's weight. Today, many children spend a lot time being inactive. For example, the average child spends approximately four hours each day watching television. As computers and video games become increasingly popular, the number of hours of inactivity may increase.

What Diseases Are Obese Children at Risk For?

Obese children are at risk for a number of conditions, including:

Continued

How Do I Know if My Child Is Overweight?

The best person to determine whether or not your child is overweight is your child's doctor. In determining whether or not your child is overweight, the doctor will measure your child's weight and height and compute his ''BMI,'' or body mass index, to compare this value to standard values. The doctor will also consider your child's age and growth patterns.

How Can I Help My Overweight Child?

If you have an overweight child, it is very important that you allow him or her to know that you will be supportive. Children's feelings about themselves often are based on their parents' feelings about them, and if you accept your children at any weight, they will be more likely to feel good about themselves. It is also important to talk to your children about their weight, allowing them to share their concerns with you.

It is not recommended that parents set children apart because of their weight. Instead, parents should focus on gradually changing their family's physical activity and eating habits. By involving the entire family, everyone is taught healthful habits and the overweight child does not feel singled out.

How Can I Involve My Family in Healthful Habits?

There are many ways to involve the entire family in healthy habits, but increasing the family's physical activity is especially important. Some ways to accomplish this include:

Lead by example. If your children see that you are physically active and having fun, they are more likely to be active and stay active for the rest of their lives.

Plan family activities that provide everyone with exercise, like walking, biking, or swimming.

Be sensitive to your child's needs. Overweight children may feel uncomfortable about participating in certain activities. It is important to help your child find physical activities that they enjoy and that aren't embarrassing or too difficult.

Make an effort to reduce the amount of time you and your family spend in sedentary activities, such as watching TV or playing video games.

Whatever approach parents choose to take regarding an overweight child, the purpose is not to make physical activity and following a healthy diet a chore, but to make the most of the opportunities you and your family have to be active and healthy.

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One third of children in the U. S. is overweight or obese, and this number is continuing to rise. Children have fewer weight-related health and medical problems than adults. However, overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults, placing them at risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes later in life.

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How do we measure Obesity

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Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. It affects more than 18 percent of children, making it the most common chronic disease of childhood. This number has more than tripled since 1980.

Childhood obesity is a health issue. Today, more and more children are being diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension and other co-morbid conditions associated with obesity and morbid obesity.

A child is defined as "affected by obesity" if their body mass index-for-age (or BMI-for-age) percentile is greater than 95 percent. A child is defined as "overweight" if their BMI-for-age percentile is greater than 85 percent and less than 95 percent.

How Childhood Obesity is Measured

Measuring Weight Status
Obesity in children is determined by using BMI-for-age percentiles. BMI-for-age percentiles have emerged as the favored method to measure weight status in children. This method calculates your child's weight category based on age and BMI, which is a calculation of weight and height. However, it should be kept in mind that this method, among other methods, should be used as a tool, and only a physician can best determine and diagnose weight status in your child.

To plot a child's BMI-for-age percentile, you must first calculate his/her BMI. To locate a BMI chart with weights and heights appropriate for children, please click the below link. Once you calculate his/her BMI, find the age of the child on the bottom of the BMI-for-age percentile chart (click on below link for boy or girl) and look to the left or right to locate their BMI.

Plot the point on the graph using a pen or pencil. Once you have plotted the measurement, locate the corresponding shaded color on the bottom of the chart to determine your child's BMI-for-age percentile. You are then able to find your child's weight status by viewing the Weight Status Category table located to the right of the chart.

Measuring Growth in Children
You may have heard your pediatrician refer to your child's weight in terms of a percentile. To measure growth in your child based on their weight, doctors most commonly use weight-for-age percentiles. Weight-for-age percentiles are used to measure your child's weight based strictly on age. It does not take into account the height of a child. This is not a method to determine obesity (or overweight) in children, but simply an indicator of growth as compared to children of the same age.

To plot your child's weight-for-age percentile, find the age of your child on the bottom of the chart and look to the left to locate their body weight. Once you locate their weight and age, plot the point on the graph using a pen or pencil. Once you have plotted the measurement, locate the corresponding shaded color on the bottom of the chart to determine your child's weight-for-age percentile.

Once you have found your child's weight-for-age percentile, you can then determine what percentile (or percentile range) they fall into, as compared to children of the same age.

For example, if your child is in the 95th percentile, this means that their weight is greater than 95 percent of children of the same age.

About Body Mass Index (BMI)
BMI is the most common method to measure adult obesity. However, BMI is now becoming a popular tool, which is combined with BMI-for-age percentiles, used to measure obesity in children. BMI is a number calculated by dividing a person's weight in kilograms by his or her height in meters squared. If your child's BMI is not listed on this chart, please click here to calculate their BMI.

Risks Associated with Childhood Obesity
Children who are considered affected by obesity are 70 percent more likely to continue being affected by obesity into adulthood. In addition, they are at greater risk for serious medical issues such as:

Aside from the clinical perspective, children who are affected by obesity face social discrimination, leading to low self-esteem and depression.

Causes of Childhood Obesity

Although the causes of childhood obesity are widespread, certain factors are targeted as major contributors to this epidemic. Causes include:

Environment

Lack of physical activity

Heredity and Family

Dietary Patterns

Socioeconomic status

Environment

Today's environment plays a major role in shaping the habits and perceptions of children and adolescents. The prevalence of television commercials promoting unhealthy foods and eating habits is a large contributor. In addition, children are surrounded by environmental influences that demote the importance of physical activity.

Today, it is estimated that approximately 40 to 50 percent of every dollar that is spent on food is spent on food outside the home in restaurants, cafeterias, sporting events, etc. In addition, as portion sizes have increased, when people eat out they tend to eat a larger quantity of food (calories) than when they eat at home.

Beverages such as soda and juice boxes also greatly contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic. It is not uncommon for a 32 ounce soda to be marketed toward children, which contains approximately 400 calories. The consumption of soda by children has increased throughout the last 20 years by 300 percent. Scientific studies have documented a 60 percent increase risk of obesity for every regular soda consumed per day. Box drinks, juice, fruit drinks and sports drinks present another significant problem. These beverages contain a significant amount of calories and it is estimated that 20 percent of children who are currently overweight are overweight due to excessive caloric intake from beverages.

Lack of Physical Activity
Children in today's society show a decrease in overall physical activity. The growing use of computers, increased time watching television and decreased physical education in schools, all contribute to children and adolescents living a more sedentary lifestyle.

Another major factor contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic is the increased sedentary lifestyle of children. School-aged children spend most of their day in school where their only activity comes during recess or physical education classes. In the past, physical education was required on a daily basis. Currently, only 8 percent of elementary schools and less than 7 percent of middle schools and high schools have daily physical education requirements in the U.S.

Heredity and Family
Science shows that genetics play a role in obesity. It has been proven that children with parents affected by obesity are more likely to be affected as well. Estimates say that heredity contributes between 5 to 25 percent of the risk for obesity.

However, genes alone do not always dictate whether a child is affected by excess weight or obesity. Learned behaviors from parents are a major contributor. Parents, especially of those whose children are at risk for obesity at a young age, should promote healthy food and lifestyle choices early in their development.

Dietary Patterns
Over the past few decades, dietary patterns have changed significantly. The average amount of calories consumed per day by has dramatically increased. Furthermore, the increase in caloric intake has also decreased the nutrients needed for a healthy diet.

Food portions also play an important role in the unhealthy diet patterns that have evolved. The prevalence of "super size" options and "all you can eat" buffets create a trend in overeating. Combined with a lack of physical activity, children are consuming more and burning off less.

Socioeconomic Status
Children and adolescents that come from lower-income homes are at greater risk of being affected by obesity. This is a result of several factors that influence behaviors and activities.

Lower-income children cannot always afford to partake in extracurricular activities, resulting in a decrease in physical activity. In addition, families who struggle to pay bills and make a living often opt for convenience foods, which are higher in calories, fat and sugar.

Educational levels also contribute to the socioeconomic issue associated with obesity. Parents with little to no education have not been exposed to information about proper nutrition and healthy food choices. This makes it difficult to instill those important values in their children.

What to do about Treating Childhood Obesity

Treating obesity in children and adolescents differs from treatment in adults. Involving the family in a child's weight management program is a key element to treatment. As a support system, family is integral in ensuring weight management goals are met.

It is important to talk with your physician about options for treating childhood obesity. The various treatments of obesity in children and adolescents include:

Diet therapy

Physical activity

Behavior Modification

Surgery

Diet Therapy
When treating a child or adolescent affected by obesity, it is often recommended that they have a consultation with a nutritionist that specializes in children's needs. Nutritionists can best help children understand healthy eating habits and how to implement them in their long-term diet.

In some cases, nutritionists do not always recommend restricting caloric intake for children. Education on how to read food labels, cut back on portions, understand the food pyramid and eat smaller bites at a smaller pace is generally the information given to change a child's eating habits.

Physical Activity
Another form of treatment of obesity in children is increasing physical activity. Physical activity is an important long-term ingredient for children, as studies indicate that inactivity in childhood has been linked to a sedentary adult lifestyle.

Increasing physical activity can decrease, or at least slow the increase, in fatty tissues in children affected by obesity. The US Surgeon General recommends that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Individualized programs are available and possible for those children or adolescents that are not able to meet minimum expectations.

Behavior Modification
Lifestyles and behaviors are established at a young age. It is important for parents and children to remain educated and focused on making long-term healthy lifestyle choices.

There are several ways that children and adolescents can modify their behavior for healthier outcomes, such as: changing eating habits, increasing physical activity, becoming educated about the body and how to nourish it appropriately, engaging in a support group or extracurricular activity and setting realistic weight management goals.

While surgery has been performed on adolescents in extreme cases to treat obesity, it is only considered for those with severe medical conditions that can be improved by surgery. For more information on the various types of surgical procedures to treat obesity, please .

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What is Childhood Obesity? - Obesity Action Coalition

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Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. It affects more than 18 percent of children, making it the most common chronic disease of childhood. This number has more than tripled since 1980. Childhood obesity is a health issue.

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How people make smarter position

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With teens more stress about their body their study will drop and the risk of depression rate is going up

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Can a person be both obese and healthy?

That question is at the center of a new paper published in the Annals of Human Biology this month.

In the paper, Dr. William Johnson of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, brought up the idea that the term "healthy obesity" should be retired.

Johnson writes, "It is undeniable that obesity is bad for health, but there are clearly differences between individuals in the extent to which it is bad."

Johnson favors a more nuanced look at body mass index, or BMI, since there are numerous other contributing factors that determine a person's health. These include whether they smoke and their likelihood of developing certain conditions later in life.

Currently, a BMI over 30 is considered obese.

Johnson explains that the term "healthy obesity" is flawed since people who are obese, even those who are "metabolically" healthy, are still at increased risk for a host of health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and overall increased risk of mortality.

"While the concept of healthy obesity is crude and problematic and may best be laid to rest, there is great opportunity for human biological investigation of the levels, causes, and consequences of heterogeneity in health among people with the same BMI," Johnson said, pointing out people with the same BMI can have different health risks.

What is healthy?

The notion of whether "healthy obesity" is a flawed term remains controversial.

Sharon Zarabi, RD, the bariatric program director at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, said it's unhelpful to say a person who is obese can't be healthy.

"I think we need to move away from using BMI as categorizing one as obese/overweight or unhealthy," Zarabi told Healthline. "The real debate here is how do we define health? Is the vegetarian who has a BMI of 30, avoiding all saturated fats from meats and consuming a diet heavy in simple carbohydrates [and thus] reducing his risk of cardiac disease but increasing likelihood of elevated triglycerides and insulin, considered healthy?

"I think we need to redefine health and look at the overall person as a whole, taking into account fitness level, sleep patterns, joint pain, vitamin levels, breathing, strength, happiness, social connections," she added.

She pointed out other tests can look at health more holistically, such as the "sit test" to determine if patients can get up out of a chair easily.

Rebecca Scritchfield, a registered dietician nutritionist and author of " Body Kindness," said she was disappointed the paper made no mention of the stigma obese patients already face in the medical setting.

She pointed out there are few if any cases of obese people being told they're healthy while overweight.

"The dominant impression is that if you are the higher weight, you are unhealthy," Scritchfield told Healthline.

Scritchfield said that Johnson's arguments presented his opinion as fact.

"[He said] it's undeniable that obesity is bad for health, but that is an opinion," Scritchfield said. "That is not necessary true because there's just as much research out about how weight bias is harmful to health and may even shorten life expectancy."

Obese people "tend to avoid their medical doctor because they... don't want to get a lecture about their weight," she said.

Scritchfield pointed out that while these people may be at risk for health complications such as type 2 diabetes, their weight doesn't ensure that they will get those complications.

"You could have people do the same thing and they're going to be a different weight, including weights that would be in the obesity category," she said. "It's not unthinkable that the term [healthy obesity] would exist."

Getting proper treatment

Scritchfield said that debating the term "healthy obesity" isn't likely to help people trying to stay healthy.

Instead, doctors should focus on making patients feel comfortable so they get treatment.

"I would say more doctors should be looking at the ways that they contribute to weight stigma without necessarily knowing it," she said. "If you really care about improving the health and well-being for people, including the higher weight people, the best thing they can do is reduce the stigma."

Scritchfield said there are ways physicians can interact with obese patients without making them feel shame so as to increase the likelihood that they will return for care.

She said physicians should ask a patient if they want to discuss their weight or diet and not assume that patient doesn't exercise or take steps to eat healthy.

Scritchfield said that doctors should treat their obese patients as they would their patients who aren't obese, and not focus all of their attention on weight or diet.

"Health is individual, and it depends on a number of factors for physical and emotional health; it is not weight dependent," she said.

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Can a person be both obese and healthy? That question is at the center of a new paper published in the Annals of Human Biology this month. In the paper, Dr. William Johnson of the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, brought up the idea that the term "healthy obesity" should be retired.

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Once children are overweight, it takes a lot of effort for them to return to a healthy weight.

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Have you ever bought your toddler a nutrient-packed $6 carrot-apple smoothie and watched her dump it on the supermarket floor? Or grabbed a bag of fresh cherries and discovered, at the checkout counter, that it cost $16? It's painful -- and it can make you think that healthy eating is beyond your family's budget.

But experts say that healthy meals and snacks don't have to be so costly. If you're a busy parent struggling to put nutritious food in your kids' lunchboxes, you can do it without tapping their college fund. You just need to make smart choices when you shop.

The Real Costs (and Savings) of Healthy Eating

How much more does healthy eating cost? In a 2013 study, researchers analyzed the data and came up with a rough answer: about $1.50 more each day per person. That's the difference between a very healthy diet -- like one high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish -- and an unhealthy diet with lots of processed foods, meats, and refined (non-whole) grains.

On the one hand, that extra cost can add up. For a family of 4, that would be about $2,200 more a year.

But on the other hand, $1.50 a day may be a lot less expensive than you expected. It's cheaper than your daily latte. And that doesn't include the long-term financial savings of healthy eating, such as a lower chance of serious and expensive chronic diseases as you and your kids get older.

Why Do We Think Better Food Costs More?

Kelly Haws, PhD, associate professor of marketing at Vanderbilt University, studied how people think about the nutrition and cost of different foods. The results were published in 2017 in the Journal of Consumer Research.

"People generally believe that 'healthy' equals 'expensive,' " Haws says. But that's often not the case. One part of the problem is that we may confuse "healthy" with other labels that do increase costs, like "organic" or "gluten-free."

However, unless you have a diagnosed medical condition, you can have a nutritious diet without worrying about those extra labels. They key is to eat more whole foods and fewer processed ones, says Alissa Rumsey, a registered dietitian and a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Continued

Haws also notes that people associate healthy foods with health-food stores and food co-ops, with their beautiful displays and (often) higher prices. In reality, you can get healthy whole foods at any grocery store.

The misunderstanding of food costs has real risks to our wellness, Haws says. Some people might not even bother trying to eat healthy because they assume that a diet of cheap and not-very-nutritious food is their only option. "That simply isn't true," she says.

Tips for Sticking to Your Budget

So what are some ways you can keep your grocery bill low while your family eats healthier?

Compare your options, and pay attention to portion size. Sure, a big bag of chips costs less than a bag of apples. But before you grab the chips, think about how many snacks you'll get out of it. "If your kid is eating a quarter of a bag of chips for a serving, it only lasts four days," Rumsey says. "That bag of apples could last more than a week."

Plan before you shop. Tell the truth: Ever gone on a health kick, bought a cartful of fruits and vegetables, and then left them to rot in your fridge's crisper drawer? The best way to avoid that is not to impulse buy. Plan your meals before you go, so you know exactly what you'll need, Rumsey says.

Choose cheaper protein. Per serving, protein is probably one of the most expensive foods on your shopping list. "But you don't have to stick with red meat or fish for your protein," Rumsey says. For example, you can buy a bag of lentils for a few dollars and get five or six meals worth of protein.

Buy in season. Don't just keep getting the same fruits and vegetables year-round, Rumsey says. Pay attention to what's in season.The costs will be lower and the fruits and vegetables fresher.

Go frozen. When fruits and vegetables you want aren't in season, buy them frozen. They're usually frozen right after they're picked. They may actually have more nutrients than "fresh" produce shipped from far away, Rumsey says.

Finally, remember the research: More expensive does not equal healthier. Don't be seduced by fancy food co-ops, organic labels, or marketing gimmicks. No matter your budget, choosing healthier food doesn't have to be a luxury.

Sources

SOURCES:

BMJ Open: "Do healthier foods and diet patterns cost more than less healthy options? A systematic review and meta-analysis."

Kelly Haws, PhD, associate professor of marketing, Vanderbilt University, Nashville.

Alissa Rumsey, registered dietitian; spokeswoman, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, New York City.

Journal of Consumer Research: "Healthy Diets Make Empty Wallets: The Healthy = Expensive Intuition."

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Have you ever bought your toddler a nutrient-packed $6 carrot-apple smoothie and watched her dump it on the supermarket floor? Or grabbed a bag of fresh cherries and discovered, at the checkout counter, that it cost $16? It's painful -- and it can make you think that healthy eating is beyond your family's budget.

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Why eating healthy is so expensive in America

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Did you know that 75¾ of the American population is likely to be overweight and obese by 2020? According to the Centers for Disease and Disease Control and Prevention, 36% American adults and 17% of the under 19 American youth is obese. Obesity has taken the shape of an epidemic in the USA and is leading to major health complications such as premature deaths and illnesses like heart diseases, diabetes, fatty liver, arthritis, gall bladder diseases and joint disorders. You must have heard that one of the leading causes of obesity is junk food. Junk food and obesity are considered to go hand in hand.

Let us take a look at this cause and effect relationship between junk food and obesity.

Obesity and Calorie Intake

Increase in calorie intake and inadequate physical activity are the leading factors of obesity. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the intake of calories in the US population is increasing every passing year. The numbers have risen alarmingly in the past decade.

Why Does Fast Food Cause Obesity?

There are four basic reasons why fast food is linked to obesity.

Unhealthy Ingredients

Most of the fast food contains a large amount of sugar, fats and carbs and less minerals and vitamins. This means that you are taking in large amount of unhealthy calories in the shape of fast food which leads to weight gain and ultimately obesity. Most of the fast foods have exceeding levels of sugar and fats which are directly associated with increasing weight.

Larger Portions

The unhealthy ingredients of the fast food are further aggravated with increased portion sizes which have grown parallel with the average body weight of a person from the 70s to date. While the portions have become large, the person will still eat the complete meal regardless of feeling full or not. This means that people are eating bigger portions of junk food leading to abnormal weight gain.

Lower Cost

One of the main reasons people cannot stop eating fast food is the low costs it is available in. As per a research conducted by the University of Washington, a diet containing 2000 calories of fast food costs much less than a diet with 2000 calories of healthy food. This makes it more affordable than going for healthy food and is a leading cause of obesity in lower-income classes.

Convenience

Fast food restaurants offer convenience. You can always find one in close proximity of your home and can also get food easily delivered to your house. This makes it a convenient option than making food at home using healthier ingredients.

According to studies, the consumption of fast food has increased over the past four decades at an alarming rate. This increased calorie intake is a leading cause of obesity in the USA. If it is not controlled, health issues are going to rise in the coming years as more people will become obese eating unhealthy fast food.

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Fast Food and Obesity - The Cause and Effect Relationship

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Did you know that 75¾ of the American population is likely to be overweight and obese by 2020? According to the Centers for Disease and Disease Control and Prevention, 36% American adults and 17% of the under 19 American youth is obese.

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eating as a child will affect adulthood 

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eating as a child will affect adulthood 

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Dear Doctor: My teenagers refuse to eat vegetables unless they're fried. Are they doomed to obesity and ill health?

Dear Reader: We wish we could reassure you and say it'll all be OK, but studies have long been clear on the matter. What your kids eat now will shape their health for years - and maybe decades - to come.

Poor eating habits have caused a spike in childhood obesity in the last few decades. Today, more than 17 percent of kids ages 2 to 17 qualify as obese. That's double what it was 20 years ago.

Being overweight has put young people at increased risk of all kinds of health problems and led to a sharp increase in the diagnosis of conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol, fatty liver, and even asthma and sleep disorders.

But before you confront your kids with a list of "don'ts," which teens are naturally primed to resist, be aware that the newest study on youth nutrition has some great news. It arms you with the information you need to right the nutritional course while encouraging your teens in a positive way.

Here's the gist: Young people who ate fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains, and who steered clear of sugar, red meat and processed foods, gained significantly less weight as they entered young adulthood.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota, followed the eating habits of 2,500 adolescents from the time they were 15 until they turned 25. Researchers found that by eating well at age 15, young people developed the habit of good nutrition, and it carried on into their 20s and beyond.

The takeaway? You can guide your children to a more healthful adulthood by helping them establish good eating habits while they are in their teens.

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Eating habits now will affect how kids eat as adults

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Dear Doctor: My teenagers refuse to eat vegetables unless they're fried. Are they doomed to obesity and ill health? Dear Reader: We wish we could reassure you and say it'll all be OK, but studies have long been clear on the matter.

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Fixing the childhood obesity epidemic | Matt Young | TEDxStanleyPark

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is technology a cause of obesity
or is obesity the price for the comfort of technology

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should parents be hold accountable for their obese child.
How should a person on a budget eat healthy

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should US have a law of how much people should weigh like Japan?

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What is healthy? Organic, Gluten Free?

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Will people look at sugar the same way they look at tobacco 50 years from now?

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The Secrets of Sugar - The Fifth Estate - CBC News

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We've heard about the dangers of eating too much fat or salt. But there has never been a warning about sugar on our food labels - despite emerging research that suggests the sweet stuff is making more of us fat and sick. http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/episodes/2013-2014/the-secrets-of-sugar

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Different BMI in the US vs the Other countries