Tag: Children's Health

Junk Food and Child Health
Junk Food and Child Health

Who does not enjoy a juicy burger or a saucy pizza? Give a child a packet of chips or a can of fizzy drink and the child stops bothering the parents! When children do not finish the roti-subzi of their tiffin, instant noodles is the easiest solution!

Though junk food might be an easy solution to numerous problems, it may be breaking down the health of your child behind your back. This type of food is extremely hazardous to child health and leads to long term medical issues.

Given our current lifestyle, children do not get enough physical activity or outdoor play. Added to that is the huge calorie intake from fast and ready-to-eat food. This is why child obesity is a household problem in our country today.

Junk food might be tasty but they are very low on the nutrient content. Vitamins like A and C, micronutrients or minerals such as magnesium or calcium are simply not present in such food. So regular intake might lead to deficiency diseases in children leading to early onset of medical issues like osteoporosis or dental problems.

Fast food and packaged eatables are rich in added salts and sugars. They are usually rich in carbohydrates and fats, making them extremely high-calorie. This might lead to health issues like obesity, emotional issues and other chronic illnesses. Some latest studies have even shown the relation of junk food with diseases like asthma, rhinitis, eczema etc in kids.

Such foods usually contain a lot of processed items like like processed cheese, processed meat, mayonnaise, sauces etc. They also contain harmful artificial colors, fragrances and flavours. They might also contain chemicals in the form of preservatives. Due to their attractive packaging and marketing techniques, kids become obsessed and habituated to junk food which is a leading cause of health issues in children. They should be encouraged to abstain from it.