What effects does the consumption of fast food have on the development of children? 🍟

Prof Hassan

What makes the problem important to me?

My 3 questions

  1. How does fast food consumption affect physical development in adolescents?
  2. How does fast food consumption affect cognitive development in adolescents?
  3. How does fast food consumption affect social-emotional development in adolescents?

Finding 1: Eating fast food seems to negatively impact other dietary choices.

Bowman, et al., 2004

Finding 2: Student performance decreases when they eat more fast food; increases when their diet has less fast food.

Abrahamsson, et al., 2023

Finding 3: Taste patterns are established before age 8.

Rice, F.P., 1997

Recommendation

  1. Educate parents and schools on what seemingly innocuous meal choices might do to students in the long run.
  2. Focus on healthy eating choices at a young age and make sure the child has autonomy in these decisions.

Thoughts?