Why Do Teens Eat So Much Fast Food?
A small study (published in Pediatrics) shows that teenagers will overeat fast food regardless of visual cues or portion size.
The lead study author calls for "fundamental improvements in the nutritional quality of fast food".
What's interesting about this research is that it doesn't quite fit with the usual paradigms that blame visual cues for overeating.
The teenagers were offered a meal of nuggets, fries, and coke. Over three different days, the meal was presented in three different ways; all at once, split into four smaller portions, or allocated out over 1 hour.
Regardless of the presentation - the teens still consumed the same amount - 1300 calories.
So what is it about fast food?
I can clearly remember digging into buckets of KFC chicken in my teens. At the time I couldn't have cared less about nutrition. My "fast metabolism" seemed to cope with it all quite nicely. Then came the mid twenties and my body suddenly started reflecting my food choices.
Asking a teenager to avoid fast food is like asking them to save money for retirement.
It's not going to happen.
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I wonder if there's any social aspect to teens eating at fast food locations.
I remember meeting friends at fast food restaurants when I was in my teens because it felt like such an adult thing to do.
Brian
ReplyA few years ago, I was asking the CEO of a game company why one of their most popular characters was a gorgeous woman armed to the teeth with firearms. I was wondering what it said about teenage boys to be attracted to such a character. The CEO told me that there wasn't anything deep - the teenage boys like sexy women and liked guns, so they liked them together too...
So... I don't overanalyze teenagers anymore. I'd guess teens like fast food places because the food is hot, salty, tasty and cheap.
I was a donut hound, myself. I'd have a half dozen maple bars and look for more.
Replyi think its part rebellion, part social, and part convenience. i remember when i was a fast food junkie (i'm 23)- my mom always wanted me to eat her food, but i would eat before i got home just to spite her. most of my friends would meet up at taco bell or mcd's so we'd most likely eat there. sometimes it was just convenient that on the way home from my part time job i'd just pick something up instead of eating mom's left overs... dont really think about fat and calories when there's so much other stuff going on!
ReplyAlso fast food is still the cheapest food out there (at least restaurant-style) so it provides a cheap social activity--you can stay for hours for the cost of a biggie fry! I remember being thrilled that the local Arby's was open until midnight b/c I could go there with my friends and stay until my curfew.
ReplySomeone actually paid for this study? They could have asked any of us for free. How hard is it to figure out tasty + free?
ReplyGood point Jarrett. Funny how teens (and college students, come to think of it) eat more junk food when it's on someone else's dime. I remember sitting through a lot of dull club meetings just because they provided free pizza.
ReplyHere's another "Why do...?" which answers the question about fast food -
Why do food companies add MSG to foods?
There are several reasons:
MSG tricks your tongue into making you think a certain food is high in protein and thus nutritious. It is not a "meat tenderizer". It is not a "preservative". The food industry is trying to confuse the issue by focusing on the "fifth" taste sense they call umami. Free glutamic acid is detected by the taste buds as a simple way to signal the presence of protein in a food, just as there are fat receptors to detect fats and receptors that sense carbohydrate or sweet flavors. The purpose is to help us discern real food from inedible matter. It changes your perception of not simply taste but the nutritious qualities of what you put into your mouth. However, and here is the main problem with free glutamic acid - It is the very same neurotransmitter that your brain and many organs including your ears, eyes, nervous system and pancreas in your body use to initiate certain processes in your body.
ReplyMSG stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin. So many diets these days are concerned about the Glycemic Index of foods and yet none of them address the fact that MSG and free glutamic acid stimulate the pancreas to release insulin when there doesn't even have to be carbohydrates in the food for that insulin to act on. The food industry has found their own "anti-appetite suppressant". It's a convenient way to keep consumers coming back for more. The blood sugar drops because of the insulin flood. And you are hungry an hour later. Sound familiar?
The body changes excess glutamate to GABA. GABA may be addictive. It is calming and affects the same receptors in the brain as valium.
Cost. The illusion created by adding MSG to a food product enables the food processor to add LESS real food. The illusion of more protein in a food allows the food producer to put LESS protein in it. The consumer perceives the product - say chicken soup - to have more chicken in it than is actually there. Example: A well-known brand of dehydrated chicken noodle soup. Is that chicken in there, or a piece of confetti?
I think it's interesting that they always ate roughly the same amount of calories. All the talk about eating off smaller plates to make portions seem bigger, all the adult "tricks" to satisfy yourself, when the net net is that you should listen to your body. Regardless of the presentation, it seems that the teens all stopped eating when they were full. Eat only when you are hungry and stop when you are no longer hungry. That's better advice than the thousands of dieting tricks out there.
Reply(Remembering nostalgically my 97 lb teenage days when nothing I ate made me gain an ounce, and I thought I was immortal.....)
Because they can!
ReplyA Chinese friend of mine made a wonderful and wholesome lunch that included stir-fried broccoli and garlic. She added MSG and salt to the dish, and both contributed to the taste. And, parmesan cheese - the real thing, grana padana, which i adore - is brimming with free glutemate.
ReplyAs a teenager I can tell you the reasons I still visit places like McDonalds and KFC and Pizza Hut and the numerous other fast food places despite the fact I'm trying to eat healthily :
Reply* They're cheap - most of us don't have huge budgets so it's good to get something to eat and still have money for a round or the cinema afterwards.
* They're open late - When you're walking/stumbling out of a club most restaurants aren't open, let alone willing to take you in, also it means after you've finished whatever you're doing for that night you can grab something to eat.
* It's pickable food. It's something you can casually eat and still be in conversation and gives you something to fiddle with (fries, nuggets etc)
* Fast food places are usually more casual too
.. the list is endless, the base line simply being, they're more conveniant on the whole for your life, even if they're not for your arteries or waist lines.
I can understand why naturally lean and active teens eat fast food all the time--it tastes great and it's cheap. But now that teens are getting fatter, and, especially for girls, feeling unattractive because of it, I'm surprised more of them aren't making the connection and laying off it a bit.
There's a high school near us, and it's sad to see these obese kids scarfing down entire pizzas as a single portion.
I know impulse control is difficult at that age, but its still kind of blows me away that they can be so indifferent--not to their health, 'cause I'd expect that, but to their appearance. These are kids that will pay $200 for a pair of jeans, so I know they care about what they look like.
Ah, youth.
ReplyWe need to remember that the "teen" demographic includes many different psychographics. For example, many people in this age group are clearly against mistreating animals. After they watch videos like those at Kentucky Fried Cruelty, their perceptions change like anyone else's. I have high hopes that "teens" will wake up to being manipulated by large fast food corporations and make their health important.
ReplyMost teens are not yet prepared to embrace responsibility and are not concerned with health for that matter. They may be concious about their body but some don't spare time to learn more about healthy eating.
ReplyFast food is fast and delicious....no denying that. Teenagers won't really go by the health routine unless it's drilled into them long before that.
ReplyVick... that sounds like great diet advice. Eat till you are full. Brilliant!
I can't wait to be 300 pounds.
Replyjimmy i think you shouldn't eat as much
Replybecause you only need to eat fist size on plate
okay try that and you will see good turn over.
jimmy, was there any need for the childish sarcasm? vick gave good adive - if you listened to your body and only ate until you were satisfied then the chances are you will most likely not overeat. many people who are overweight over-eat because they ignore the signal that their body is full - instead they just keep on eating. the idea is to eat so you are no longer hungry, not to stuff your face until you are sick. of course, the food you eat should be healthy/low cal and not cookies, cake etc etc. but it's a good idea nontheless and i've seen that piece of advice being given a lot of times in diet books, websites etc. imo, it's about re-educating yourself about your body and understanding how much food it really takes to satisfy your hunger.
as a 19 yo, i think fast food is popular because it's cheap, it's seen as a social activity and generally teenagers either dont know or dont care about nutrition. you'll get more crap for eating well and not drinking a lot than for eating mcdonalds and drinking an insane amount of beer. in fact, the latter is pretty much seen as normal behaviour amongst teens. it's beer and pizza not a tuna steak, brown rice and steamed veggies that is in.
i dont think teens eat fast food to "rebel" - that's a silly idea to me, to be honest. when fast food is so accepted in society and parents take their young children to mcd's - what part of eating fast food is rebelling? it's an acceptable food choice now. and as someone pointed out, these meals were given free. if a teen already likes fast food, they are sure as hell going to eat as much of it as they can when they dont have to pay for it. they wouldn't waste an "opportunity" like that.
ReplyYeah, it's sad. But here's a reality... a lot of teens are eating to mash down emotions. Some smoke, some drink, some starve themselves, some throw up. Others eat. So what is it with the fast food? Check out the responses here, combined with the ads... fast food is fun, their friends are there, it's cheap... all these things translate to "it's fun". There's no pressure when they're there. The ads even say that it's cool to do it. Teens are very influenced by their peers and by the media (even if they say they're not). So when life gets tough, what to do? Work through all those painful emotions or have a Big Mac? Hmmm.... that's a toughie....
ReplyI agree that they choose fast food because it's cheap and more casual. Teens prefer it to be casual because of others things they might be doing when they eat.
ReplyI think what Jimmy was trying to say (but missed the mark) is that eating until you are no longer hungry is better for your body than eating until you feel "full." For most people, there is a distinct difference between these two feelings.
ReplyHahah fast food is good!! YUMMMMMMMMM
Replyi don't eat fast food, if it is at MC.Donald's, then i get apples, if i absolutely HAVE to i get chicken or salad. But i usually eat at subway, or don't eat at all. Those foods will make not only me, but everyone fatter. I HATE FAST FOOD. I HATE SLOW COOKED FOOD. I like healthy, east to make food, notice i said HEALTHY.
ReplySubway isnt all that healthy. If you read the calorie thing, you will find that it is very very high. Try Quiznos or something. You will find that their food is very good, and that it is alot heathier than Subway
ReplyWell, because it's yummy! I mean, I don't use food to solve my problems, but sometimes, mmmm.... a chicken nugget meal, or a double quarter-pounder with cheese. Sometimes you need something like that to be satisfying.
Please note that I don't eat at McD's or BK or taco bell all the time. It's more like a once-a-month treat.
ReplyMine is not a Question.I just want to find out how important is teh location of a Fast Food to the Consumer? Thanks and please anyone can help me out.
ReplyAs a fellow teenager, I completely concur. Thought I'd like to add some points from a guys perspective.
1) Plan Mischief
2) A place to chill and talk
2) Cheap food + convenience - give students time to grab some food for cheap and socialize
*I find that fast food is barely tolerable, except KFC that chicken is the shit!, but I can't stand McDonald's so when we go I usually don't order anything and just chill out, stack trays, and mooch fries.
*These are just the reasons my friends and I go to fast food restaurants a lot.
*Most of my friends and I have high metabolisms, so the healthiness of the food doesn't really cross our minds, but there is a few people I hang out with who are overweight, know it, but choose not to eat healthily. I don't know why, maybe I'll ask and post back.
ReplyI think this post is right because I'ma teen and love to eat fat foods oops I meant fast foods
Replyand since its really hard for me to gain weight I wanna eat there because I and everybody else thinks I'm too skinny and I don't like it
im a teen myself and i eat so much fastfood and dont gain a pound. the only reason why teens eat so much fast food is because its so convinent with being with your friends and u want somthing quick 2 eat
ReplyWhy is Convenience food so popular???
ReplyWill we die without convenience food???
Why is it so popular???
What is the uses of convenience food???
It's called GMI {i think or GMS}. Fast food factories add it to all there food, and don't add it to the label. It's an addictive substance to humans, which is why people appeal to it so much. It's the drug that makes us want more of what we're eating. But it's dangerous. In low quantities, the body can handle it, but after years of eating GMI, the effect is bad. I read, note, read, that it can cause cancer and other nasties, but that's up to you to find out.
ReplyI think speed is very important. Even as an adult, if it's just the guys getting together on the weekend for some activity and we need to take a break for food, it can be a little uncomfortable for six or seven of us to sit around the table at a family restaurant for 90 minutes chatting like the ladies. Even if it's not uncomfortable, most everyone would rather get back to the activity of the day anyway.
Reply"Asking a teenager to avoid fast food is like ..."
Just a notification of being cited as quotable metaphors/analogies in "Archive of Metaphor and Analogy".
ReplyThank you.
http://gistout.com
I'm a teen and I love fast food. I don't know why but it's really the only food that appeals to me. I mean my mom is a really good cook and she cooks sun- thurs. but i hate it. she asks me what i want for dinner and i'll say some fast food or pizza place. I mean im not fat (i play lots of sports and im pretty active)but ive noticed this past year ive started to gain a little weight, i guess my metabolism is starting to slow down. :( But, idk teens like it because it's yummy.
Replyim 15 the reason most teens eat fast food is because its cheep and quick.. plus after eating it you dont have a big mess to clean up..
Replyalthough i dont eat very much fast food because im a dancer and i know its not good for me and im kind of a healt freak. plus i would rather not spend my money on food.
I'm 14 and I hate fast food. I think it's really gross. I cook and make all my food from scatch. If people are to cheap to buy good quality food thats really sad and means america's pretty screwed. My favorite foods are foie gras, veal osso bucco, and chocolate mousse. I also love many other foods. I hope that teenagers decide to take a stand and stop eating that gross frozen crap that is fast food.
ReplyBeing a teen, I love fast food too. Both unfortunately and fortunately, my mum is on a diet plan, and she is the one that buys the shopping. Not to mention, she's the cook too. In saying so, what she cooks, we eat, and what she cooks is influenced by her diet. Which is good, but my brother and I miss out on those yummy sweet things a fair bit, and resent mum's diet for it. But without it, we wouldn't be the healthy kids we are today.
ReplyI hate fast food! When I was younger, I loved it, tried to get off of it for a while, then when I tried it again, I felt gross and nauseous. It's been like that ever since. And about the 'teens have such high metabolisms that they can eat whatever...' Not true! Honestly, I don't understand I almost gained 20 pounds without realizing it within the past two years. I'm definitey still not fat(I was rather thin before and have always been active) but still, I think our metabolisms are slowing down and it's really affecting our generation. Also, you CAN convince a teen to be healthy and they will try hard to make healthier choices if you inform them correctly.
Replyum teens do have fast metabolisms erin. and i can pretty much eat anything. i'm 5'6", 96lbs and 16 and i eat ALOT. and i'm moderately active but definitely not overboard like some people. and if i eat healthy i lose weight which is bad.
ReplyWell I'm a teenager myself and being 18 years old and without a job for the moment, it's just really easy to swing by a mcdonald's or which ever fast food place is closest and cheapest to grab some food. Some people were saying that it's bad how we are too cheap to buy healthy food. It's not that we're cheap, it's just that most of us can't afford it.
It's not completely our fault either. Everyone has been inside or around a fast food place once in our lives and you cannot honestly say that you haven't seen a mother or father or even entire family sitting down to eat there. When we're younger children, we adapt and get hooked to habits easily and it's not any different when you get hooked to some tasty food. So when you get older, you're obviously going to walk into a fast food place and pick up some food especially when your like me. Driving and all your money goes to other places that are obviously more important. Not much money at all to go eat with friends when you really want to so that's where the uncontrollable desire for fast food comes in.
Replywhat is the game pls tell me
Replyim leaving my teens in a few months, but I love fast food for several reasons.
I go to the gym for strength training, I ride my bike 10+ miles several times a week, and I have a pretty fast metabolism.
Over the past 2 months I've actually lost weight eating terrible. At such a young age if you exercise properly you can eat whatever you want without dramatic changes to your body.
When I get older I will probably make more time to exercise over strict dieting food is just too delicious :D.
ReplyThe options are not either fast food or strict dieting. You could also eat as much as you want, but of real foods that have a good nutritional value. It is pretty easy to do.
Reply