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Junk Food Prevalence and Its Physical and Mental Implications

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Junk Food Prevalence and Its Physical and Mental Implications
Name: Ali Hussain Al-Attas
Date: 15/10/2011
Cause & Effect

Junk Food Prevalence and its Physical and Mental Implications
Introduction:
A study conducted lately, showed that junk food affects the function and structure of the brain which could change peoples’ behavior, especially that of children. By definition, junk food is pre-prepared food that has low nutritional value and is high in calories. The aim of this paper is to explore the causes of junk food prevalence and its physical and mental effects.

Paragraph 1: Causes: Abundance and Advertisements:
Junk food has become very popular among people owing to its accessibility, taste, cost and strong media advertising. It’s difficult to find a district, or even a street, without a fast-food restaurant. Statistics indicate that the number of these restaurants tripled in the last decade. An example of advertisement is putting surprises, free toys, with every “happy meal” to attract children. The rise of the number of fast-food restaurant leads to an increase in its physical and mental hazards.

Paragraph 2: Effects: Physical Implications:
Junk food physical hazards of can be broadly categorized into two groups. The first is the immediate effect, namely, obesity that presents health risks. In 2005, a study conducted by NIH found higher rates of obesity in high schools with nearby fast-food restaurants. According to a study carried out on general education students in Saudi Arabia, the rate of obesity among those who frequently eat fast food is 38.20%, while the rate is 19.43% among those eating only one meal a week. Another study revealed that about one out of four (or 23.6%) of Saudi adults are classified as obese. The second group is the distal effects. Being overweight and can increase the chances of getting chronic illnesses. The OSG pointed out that simply becoming obese, with over 30 BMI, raises the likelihood of developing many diseases including heart attack, stroke and few types of cancer. A

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