Having a passive lifestyle and eating unhealthy food for an extended period of time will lead to serious health problems and even death— here is why. 

  Obesity is a common problem for people in the United States. Many fast food restaurants offer extensive options of delicious and inexpensive food. 

  According to the Centers for Disease Control, from between 1999 and 2018, the prevalence of obesity increased from 30.5% to 42.4%. This trend is expected to continue.

  After a long day at work, some may want to go to McDonald’s to enjoy a delicious, fast, and affordable meal. Others may take the time to go to the store and buy healthy food. The second option is more expensive and time consuming which not everyone can afford. 

  Most people choose the first option, but developing this habit will lead to gaining unnecessary weight, which has its consequences. 

  Junior at Sanderson High, Adrian Zalamea shared, “I have never really thought about what fast food does to my body, and that it could hurt me.” He continued, “ But with time I started to see some changes in my health, and I knew if I kept going like this, it would cause some serious problems.”

  The World Health Organization reports that carrying extra fat leads to serious health consequences such as cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke), type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis, and some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon). These conditions cause premature death and substantial disability.

  All the food that we eat goes through a chemical process called metabolism. According to Mayo Clinic, metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. During this complex process, calories in food and beverages are combined with oxygen to release the energy for the body to function.

  The foods and drinks that we consume are meant to help our bodies function, but every time when we eat and drink food that tastes good, a hormone called dopamine is released. When this signal from the taste buds goes to the brain, it conveys that the food was good and that hormonal response is the reason the person will crave that food over and over. 

  When a person eats more than needed to keep their body functional during the day, that food turns into fat. Fat is not only under your skin, it also covers vital organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys, reducing the function of these organs. 

  A body that remains in this state for a very long time will likely develop not only chronic problems with organs and their functionality; but also joint and spinal problems. 

  Based on Eatthis Blog, a 2019 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that drinking two or more glasses of soft drinks significantly increased participants’ risk of death from all causes.

  Leading a healthy life doesn’t necessarily mean eating healthy food everyday. Enjoying a fast food meal on occasion is perfectly fine, but you have to remember that controlling what you eat could add more days to your life.