Nicholas Bakalar's article "How Much Junk Food Do Teenagers Eat" was published by the New York Times on September 21, 2015. In the article, Bakalar reveals that a teenager's diet contains a shocking amount of junkfood. Although the numbers did not vary according to gender, wealth, or weight, the numbers did vary between ethnicities. White and African American teenagers' diets are 17.8% and 18.8% junk food respectively. The intake in the Hispanic and Asian populations is significantly lower, at 14.9% and 11.9% respectively. Additionally, 34% of teenagers eat junk food every single day and a two-thirds of those kids receive 25% of their calories from it.
These findings are extremely shocking and quite terrifying. The health status of American is one of the most pressing issues of our time. One can only imagine what society will look like if we do not decrease these numbers fast. I believe that the junk food epidemic that has swept the nation is comparable to other diseases and epidemics that have radically changed the face of the United States, beginning with diseases like smallpox that killed the Native Americans all the way up to the AIDS epidemic. If we do not figure out a solution to this daunting problems soon, the future of the United States will be radically changed forever.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/22/health/how-much-junk-food-do-teenagers-eat.html?ref=health
I totally agree! Not only are overweight teens an issue in America, but the food provided in public schools are far from the "balanced diet" that they market themselves as
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, the amount of sugar in foods is steadily increasing. It's concerning because it could become a health issue for us. We can't take that much sugar!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of you. The number of real, natural ingredients is way outnumbered by the number of processed, synthesized, fake ingredients. Fake ingredients which usually involve some sort of sugar. People need to maintain healthier diets because being overweight is so bad for our health and can lead to many worse things.
ReplyDeleteThis statistic is very disappointing. We can all enjoy junk food every now and then, but it cannot make up 25% of our daily diets. This is why America has such a bad reputation, and will continue to have such if nothing is done about it.
ReplyDelete-Julianne Swaykus 6
I totally agree. This statistic is very saddening. The teenagers are the future generation therefore there needs to be a change in dieting to diminish America's infamous reputation.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you connected this to smallpox and AIDS. The bad diet itself isn't comparably as grave as those diseases, but the health problems it causes can be severe and life-changing.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting article! Unfortunately these statistics do not surprise me as junk food is often easily accessible and a common go-to for hungry teenagers. I would love to see our nation turn this problem around, although it's sure to be a big challenge in order to do so! - Nicole Chatham 6th period
ReplyDeleteThis is a topic that really interests me, over time I have found that my theory behind this epidemic is that junk food is what children learn and what grown-ups teach. Kids don't just get the idea that junk food is okay to have, parents and other authority figures show kids that junk food is the cheapest, junk food is the quickest, and that junk food is the easiest option. If we want to stop this propaganda of junk food, then we will have to start educating ourselves and our children about what other food are out there.
ReplyDeleteI may be wrong but I'm positive I'm correct;junk food is affordable. Americans don't have time and patience to worry about the food in front of them at dinner time, nor do we have time to benefit from the resources that provide nutrition and nourishment. _ Cassidy Jones
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