This document summarizes 3 studies on the risks of fast food consumption among young adults. The first study found that young adults who eat fast food 2-3 times per week are at higher risk of overweight, obesity, and poor diet quality. The second study linked eating on the go to higher intake of unhealthy foods and lower intake of healthy options. The third study showed that the specific fast food chain chosen can impact the nutritional content, with certain chains associated with higher fat, sugar, and calorie meals. The document concludes by providing suggestions to help individuals and families make healthier eating and activity choices.
3. Study #1 Young Adults Eating Away From
Home
Young adults are eating at fast food restaurants 2-3 times
per week.
Young adults who are constantly eating fast food are at
risk for overweight and obesity and poor dietary intake
Young adults eating from sandwich or sub shops may be
more likely to have high intakes of total energy, total fat,
saturated fat, and sodium.
The study included 1,030 men and 1,257 women (mean
age=25.3 years who completed these surveys in 2008-2009
4. Study #2 Making Time for Meals: Meal
Structure and Associations with Dietary
Intake in Young Adults study
This study describes attitudes regarding meals, time
constraints on meals and meal regularity.
This data was done by cross sectional analysis from
Projects Eat (Eating Among Teens)
This survey was done by 1,687 young adults in 2003-2004
Eating on the run was associated with higher intakes of
soft drinks, fast food, total fat and saturated fat, and
lower intake of healthy foods
5. Study #3 Nutritional consequences of a fast
food eating occasion are associated with
choice of quick-service restaurant chain
The following study had 76.6% female and were 81.3% Australian, had to be at
least 16 years old and have eaten food from McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, KFC,
Dominos, or Red Rooster in Australia with the previous 6 months.
6. Suggestions for adults
• Choose vegetables rich in color
• Stock up on veggies Eating Right
• Do not go to the grocery store hungry, always
stick to your list.
• Buy small amounts frequently.
Be a Smart
Shopper
• Replace a coffee break with a 10 minute walk.
• Walk, skate, or cycle and less driving.
Increasing
Physical Activity
7. Suggestions for a family with children
• Make sure kids are getting the appropriate
portion size.
• Add more fruits and vegetables to meals
Eating Right
• Be aware of portions “deluxe,” and “super”
• Think before you buy. Do not caught up with,
“would you like fries with that?”
When Choosing
Fast Food
• Instead of watching a movie together as a
family, try taking a walk together.
• Limit TV time and video games.
Physical
Activity
8. Sources
http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442468830
http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442465122
http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442465122
http://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/pmc/articles/PMC4162567/
http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0002822311013770/1-s2.0-S0002822311013770-
main.pdf?_tid=ecb7efd6-48e3-11e4-9681-
00000aacb35f&acdnat=1412110629_f6dd7f0a94ad263afedb32385de48b98
Larson, Nicole I., et al. "Making Time for Meals: Meal Structure and Associations
with Dietary Intake in Young Adults." Journal of the American Dietetic
Association 109.1 (2009): 72-9. Print.
Larson, Nicole, et al. "Young Adults and Eating Away from Home: Associations with
Dietary Intake Patterns and Weight Status Differ by Choice of Restaurant." Journal
of the American Dietetic Association 111.11 (2011): 1696-703. Print.
Brindal, E., Wilson, C., Mohr, P. and Wittert, G. (2014), Nutritional consequences
of a fast food eating occasion are associated with choice of quick-service
restaurant chain. Nutrition & Dietetics, 71: 184–192. doi: 10.1111/1747-
0080.12129
Hinweis der Redaktion
Today, we will be discussing studies of the risks of fast foods. We are in a constantly moving society, we are surrounded by drive thru and dollar menus. Americans are constantly on the go and everything is so fast paced. The easiest thing to do for dinner is go through a drive thru and voila you have dinner for your family all under $20. As a college student myself, since I am constantly focused in school, It is very difficult for me to find the time to actually prepare and cook food. I have two studies that involved students like us to see how it is affecting our body.
I know as students we find fast food very appealing. I would choose fast food over making my own sandwich. The amount of time of making my own food most likely be longer than me just driving through a drive thru. Fast food is just easier for students but do we really know what we are consuming? Is this even healthy for our bodies? Are we including physical activity when we consume fast food? Is fast food an addiction? All these questions can be answered if we do a little research. For some apparent reason I find fast food very interesting. So many people consume fast food on a regular basis and I want to know the reasons why people consume fast food more than they consume home cooked foods.
As a student, I wanted to look at studies about other students and the affects of fast food. As students, we do not have time to cook as often and we all prefer just to grab some fast food. The study included 1,030 men and 1,257 women aging between 20-29 year olds. This analysis was from Project EAT-III (Eating and activity in Teens and Young Adults). Weight status, dietary intake, physical activity, weight control were all associated in this study. What young people need to keep in mind is the sodium intake with the sandwiches and high in fat as well and should take in different alternatives when possible and choose healthy options when eating. The best way to avoid fast food is cooking at home. I, myself have such a difficult time making time to cook meals. But I have found ways where I buy bread and deli meat and make my own sandwich. The best thing one can do is plan out your meals and stick to that plan. It may be difficult at first but when you start making healthier choices, you won’t be missing too much of the fast food and you can be saving a lot more money as well.
I found this study to be very interesting, since as students we always eat “on the run.” The tests were calculated to examine differences in meal attitudes and behaviors. According to the results majority of young adults reported they value eating with others. Eating with others actually had people with better dietary intake, higher intakes of fruits and vegetables. Eating on the run had people with higher intakes of soft drinks, fast food, total fat and saturated fat. As young adults, we should try to make better food choices, and most importantly we should make an effort to make time for our meals.
The following methods were used to conduct this research, Adolescents were used a questionnaire that was used to asses the intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and soft drinks. The question did reflect the consumption of frequency instead of the serving. Young adults were also asked to report the frequency of fast food intake. Another reason for meal studies was according to living space and arrangements, relationship status, and weight status. Young adults who were living with other people stated they were least likely to social eat. Obese young adults less often social eat compared to people that were overweight or not overweight.
“There have been studies on the reasons to why people consume fast food, and it is due to convenience, cost, impulsivity, taste and flavor“ One of the reasons, as a student myself consumes fast food is because of the convenience. It is so difficult to be able to go to school full time, work, and then find sometime to cook myself. This study, focused on the purchasing behaviors that surround fast food consumption and the reasons for this intake. The participants were 76.6% female and were 81.3% Australian, had to be at least 16 years old and have eaten food from McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, KFC, Dominos or Red Rooster in Australia with the previous 6 months. In the following results, the frequent activity the individual was doing prior to consuming fast food was actually “going somewhere” which included driving to an appointment or doing errands. And many people stated that they were at work or they were shopping. Ten percent of people have stated that they were doing some kind of physical activity. And 15.9% of people reported that they were sleeping, watching TV, or not doing anything before consuming fast food.
I found this study very interesting since they actually researched on what the individuals were doing prior to going to a fast food restaurant. I love how the number one reason is due to convenience. In most cases, any individual would pass by a drive thru was because of the convenience and how quick and easy it is. Many of the participants would state, “I was craving a big mac and it was on my way home.” and it also came down to convenience where people stated that they did not want to cook. I have to say fast food places are very convenient and very cheap so many see the convenience to these fast food chains.
I am going to give some suggestions as adults on what we can do to improve on the foods we choose as well as some information that may be useful to anyone wanting to change up their meal choices. Always stock up on vegetables no matter what and choose vegetables rich in color. Be a smart shopper, make time to plan out your meals and figure out what you need to consume. If you have a family, make shopping fun, have kids choose recipes and have them help pick out the ingredients. And always increase your physical activity if you will be consuming fast food. Some simple things to do if you are working or going to school, walk, skate or cycle. Always try to increase your physical activity.
According to eatright.org here are some suggestions for a family with children and some tips to kids eating right. It was stated to focus on portion size and serving size. Kids need to be more aware of their portion size and should learn what is appropriate. Now if one continues to use fast food over cooking a meal. Be aware of the portions. When they ask for a size, stay at a reasonable amount. Do you really need the deluxe or super? Also, think before you buy. Do you really want fries with that or are you just saying yes because they offered it? Personally, when they ask me that question I always end up saying yes just because at the time it sounds so appealing. I’m hungry and fries with my burger sounds amazing, and I just end up not eating it afterwards which would have saved me that extra $.35 cents just to get the fries.
And of course we need physical activity, first suggestion skip the movies and go take a walk outside. It is free and you are saving that $12 movie ticket. I recommend to do things as a family, you will be physically active as well as spending time with your family. Another suggestion is limit tv time and video games, go bowling, or ride your bikes together. Do not just have your kid stay on their ipad. Get your child moving and try your best to enroll them in team sports and take them to the park time to time. Kids need to constantly stay active and need to be taught at a young age how important fitness and healthy eating is associated. The world is constantly glued to their phones and we should children to get out more and explore everything at such a young age.
