Affects nutrient intakeįast food does not typically contain fresh fruit and vegetables. This inflammation acts as a trigger for asthma attacks. A 2015 study found that one fast food meal high in saturated fat increased airway inflammation in individuals with asthma. Increased inflammationĪ single serving of fast food could increase inflammation throughout the body. Excess sodium intake also has links to fluid retention. Blood pressureĪ small 2016 study found that consuming high levels of salt could immediately impact the proper functioning of a person’s blood vessels. Insulin promotes further hunger within a short time after the meal. In turn, this causes an abnormally large insulin surge, resulting in a drop in blood sugar. Spike in blood sugarįast food breaks down quickly, causing a rapid spike in blood sugar because of the refined carbohydrates and added sugar. The body’s reaction to these nutrients results in a range of short-term impacts when a person eats fast food. Share on Pinterest Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Imagesįast food is typically high in sugar, salt, and saturated or trans fats. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion notes that the typical person in the United States consumes too much of these food components. That said, even the more healthy fast food items are generally high in sugar, salt, saturated fats, and trans fats. People can find this information on the websites of most major restaurants. However, not all fast food has negative impacts, and a person can make an informed choice by researching the nutritional content of particular fast food items. It is high in sugar, salt, saturated or trans fats, and many processed preservatives and ingredients. According to a 2015 review, fast food tends to contain various substances that are generally unhealthy. However, this is only part of the consideration of whether it is healthy or not.įast food is typically poor in terms of nutrition.
Many fast food establishments now list the number of calories each item contains. There is plenty of well-researched evidence demonstrating the various negative health effects of eating and overeating fast food, in both the short- and long-term.
The term “fast food” generally refers to food that people intend to consume quickly, either on- or off-site.