Unhealthy Eating Habits- A Silent Killer
In the last two decades, the consumption of unhealthy foods including junk foods, processed and sweetened carbonated drinks increased drastically in every region of the world-The Lancet Global Health (A world-renowned health journal).
Unhealthy Eating Habits- A Silent Killer
Because of improper eating behaviours, people consume an excessive amount of energy and their diet is deficient in elements necessary for proper development. The examples of such bad eating habits are:
1. Snacking highly processed and calorie-rich foods between meals
2. Eating in front of the TV screen
3. Skipping breakfasts,
4. Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages
5. Eating out frequently and
6. Emotional Eating.
Bad eating behaviours are crucial factors for the development of obesity, Diabetes, heart disease and other metabolic disorders collectively called as Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs). Eating habits are usually formed in early childhood and parents can play a very important role in their development
Do We Know?
As per WHO report, NCDs kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. Each year, 15 million people die from an NCD between the ages of 30 and 69 years. Over 85% of these "premature" deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries like India. This is high time we should come together and let’s pledge to control and give a better environment to our children as they are the future of OUR Nation.
“Healthy Today is a Key to Healthy Future”
Now Question comes what makes individuals choose these unhealthy eating habits?
During my journey as a nutrition consultant, I come up with the following reasons why people follow unhealthy eating habits.
1. Cost of food: Fast food is a good example of a food that is unhealthy and is cheap, which makes it easy for individuals to eat.
2. Family not eating meals together
3. Poor eating habits modelled by parents
4. Lack of knowledge/Myths about what is healthy to eat
5. Lack of desire to eat healthy due to taste preference and many more
6. The belief that it is time-consuming to prepare healthy food at home.
