Why do we insist on eating junk food without knowing its bad effects on us?

We witness on current time the widely spread of restaurants in Qatar, especially fast-food restaurants, they are available everywhere now in cities, malls, universities, schools and even in hospitals. Fast food is a great invention for busy people who do not have a possibility to waste time on cooking and can buy delicious food for a small sum of money .There are some factors which lead to the spread of fast food restaurants such as: Busy parents, existed women to work, weakened family relationships, unmarried people, the more freedom which is given for the young teens and children from their parents and the availability of money in the hands of those people. In addition to the advertising and promotional campaigns in mass media. Also, fast-food restaurants are an opportunity to change the daily routine and repeating the same food at home. It was a big attraction for children and families to eat junk food without considering the dangerous and negative effects on their bodies.

There are negative consequences that can be noticed among members of the families and societies. For example: A family: Contributes to the disintegration of family relationships, where we find that the family meets at only limited meals with each other at home, It also affects the family budget and adds to the expenses. Furthermore, Health: It is known that the quick meals contain foods which cooked quickly, and people who eat from those restaurants pay too invisible tax, speed has a tax; because preparing food quickly requires to use additives and chemicals that no one knows the harms, however speed there isn’t sufficient time for quality control and follow-up safety in the materials used and the method of cooking. The junk foods contain high calories and rich in carbohydrates rich in unsaturated fat; and therefore cause higher blood fat, poisoning and increase in cholesterol levels, cholesterol may result in hardening of the cardiovascular, high blood pressure, health problems on heart and lungs, and because these foods strong dry and a few vegetables and fiber causing constipation and disruption to the digestive system , nutritional deficiencies weigh gain, cardiac disorders, loss of muscle mass, depression and even sexual dysfunction. Fast foods are labeled as ‘health hazards’ by many leading medical professionals such as; Dr. Abdul Azim Hussein, Vice President of the Association Qatar National Cancer said in an article in al raya newsletter: "rapid spread of colon cancer due to the adoption of people on fast food which has high rate of proteins and fats.’’ He also said, “ Eating red meat, and low intake of plant fibers from authorities and vegetables increase the weight of the hand, increase anxiety and tension, which reduce the body's natural immunity, and its ability to resist cancer cells”.

To sum up, fast food is harmful and unhealthy for human bodies. We must decrease and avoid  the harm of these foods through the following solutions. First increasing awareness campaigns, educating children and warning young people of the bad effects of junk food. Second, controlling granting licenses for restaurants include the addition of fresh food, fruits and salads. Also, preventing the sale of soft drinks and sweetened juices and bottled. Fourth, preventing unhealthy food advertisements that do not meet health standards. In the case of eating in restaurants, "burger", preferably request small grilled size instead of fried ones. Avoiding eating French fries and drinking soft drinks and replaced by a piece of fruit and a glass of fresh unsweetened juice. Drink water with your meal Choose good amount of fresh vegetables and be away from fatty additives such as ketchup, mayonnaise and bread. Moderation and no extravagance and pay attention to the movement and activity of the child in front of the TV and video games for long periods. Parents should know that practicing sport limits the negative effects of these diets.