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Fast Food's Deadly Toll: How Junk Food Fuels Disease and Early Death

Medical experts warn that habitual consumption of fast food inflicts serious, silent damage to vital organs, leading to obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. These conditions significantly elevate the long-term risk of cardiovascular events, cancer, and premature death, contributing to an estimated 1.1 crore deaths worldwide annually. While specific acute cases, like intestinal perforation, are often linked to infections like typhoid, the chronic dangers of junk food are systemic and well-documented. The overarching message is clear: a diet heavy in fast food is a major, preventable contributor to global mortality and chronic illness.

Key Points: Fast Food Health Risks: Obesity, Disease & Mortality

  • Leads to obesity & chronic disease
  • Increases all-cause mortality
  • Damages heart & liver silently
  • Causes 1.1 crore global deaths yearly
2 min read

Can regular intake of fast foods lead to illnesses and death?

Experts warn regular fast food intake causes obesity, heart disease, diabetes & cancer, contributing to millions of deaths globally. Learn the deadly risks.

Can regular intake of fast foods lead to illnesses and death?
"Regular eating of fast food can silently damage the heart, liver, and blood vessels. - Prof. Dr. Naresh Bansal"

New Delhi, Jan 3

Regular eating of fast foods, ranging from deep-fried snacks served as street food to quick-service restaurant chains, can cause serious damage to health, which can, in the long run, lead to several diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular conditions, contributing to death, said experts here on Saturday.

The doctors said this as social media was recently flooded with viral posts claiming that an 11th-grade student from Amroha district in Uttar Pradesh, admitted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi in December, died due to excessive consumption of junk food.

While the girl's family asserted that she was suffering from an intestinal infection that ultimately led to her death, media reports revealed that the girl was facing multiple health issues, including severe typhoid and complaints of tuberculosis.

Doctors at the AIIMS declared that her death resulted from cardiac arrest.

"While habitual excessive consumption leads to obesity, fatty liver, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, it is definitely not a cause for perforation of the intestine," Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Ex-President of IMA Cochin and Convener of the Research Cell, Kerala, told IANS.

"In a young Indian adult, in the absence of trauma, the main causes of intestinal perforation are duodenal ulcer, typhoid, tuberculosis, or severe appendicitis. The two main causes of ulcers of the stomach and duodenum are Helicobacter pylori infection and excessive intake of painkillers," he added.

Eating fast food is known to increase weight gain, cause inadequate nutritional intake, digestive issues, energy crashes, and mood swings. These can contribute to obesity, diabetes and hypertension, and poor mental health, and more -- all of which can lead to mortality in the long term.

Studies have shown that fast food consumption is associated with "all-cause mortality," meaning a higher overall risk of dying early. Unhealthy diets, including fast food, contribute to approximately 1.1 crore deaths worldwide annually.

"Regular eating of fast food can silently damage the heart, liver, and blood vessels. It leads to obesity, high sugar and high BP, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke and sudden death -- even in young people who appear otherwise healthy," Prof . Dr Naresh Bansal, Dept of Gastro, at a leading Delhi-based hospital, told IANS.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The article makes a good point, but let's not blame everything on fast food. The doctors clarified the girl had typhoid and TB. The real issue is lack of awareness about actual causes of illness. We need better health education in schools.
A
Aman W
Completely agree with the experts. I switched to home food after my BP shot up. Those samosas and burgers are slow poison. The 1.1 crore death figure is terrifying. Government should regulate these food chains more strictly.
S
Sarah B
Living in Delhi, the temptation is everywhere. From momos stalls to pizza outlets. The key is moderation, no? You can't avoid it completely, but making it a daily habit is asking for trouble. Balance is important.
V
Vikram M
It's not just about illness, it's about the cost too! Treating diabetes and heart disease will empty your savings faster than you can say "burger". Investing in good food now saves hospital bills later. Wise words from the doctors.
K
Kavya N
So sad for the girl's family. But this article mixes two things: a specific tragic case with a general warning. We must be careful not to spread panic. Listen to the experts - fast food is bad in the long run, but it's not the only villain.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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