Eating Habits

Term Paper # 100196

Child, Youth Issues > Teen, Adult Issues
Medical and Health > Eating Disorders
Medical and Health > Nutrition and Exercise

Eating Habits

An analysis of the factors that influence young people to eat unhealthy fast foods.

2,230 words () | 14 sources | APA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the changing eating habits of young people. It looks at the lack of nutritional value in fast foods and discusses why, even with knowledge of this lack of value, young people continue eating these foods. The paper discusses the role of social factors and decisions that are contributing to the growing epidemic of obesity that is gripping the Western world. It then briefly discusses solutions to the problem.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
You Are What You Eat: A Blind Spot
Young People: Fast Lives and Fast Food
The Dynamics of Problematic Eating Habits
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"But the role that coffee plays in young people is alarming. Mieszokski says that coffee has the traditional elements of fast food, calling it the "new cool" and aligning it with peer acceptance. Because of the increased stress and fast paced world coffee is also becoming a sort of cure-all, a "comfort food" that helps to reduce stress build up; this dependence on coffee for emotional release is challenging and mirrors the sorts of addiction common with cigarettes, which in the end, will have negative nutritional effects. What is most telling however is the way coffee has become a substitute meal. Giana Cirolina, a 16 year old student in Meiszokski's article says that "coffee is lunch. It's like the new mashed potatoes" (2). This is due to two reasons: first, again is the increased pace of student life, and with it the time to simply drink a cup of coffee instead of the time to eat a whole meal; secondly, it seems that young people, in an effort to fight rising weight as caffeine is an appetite suppressant, are skipping meals and substituting coffee instead (3)."

Sample of Sources Used:

Cavadini C, Siega-Riz AM, Popkin BM (2000) "US adolescent food intake trends from 1965 to 1996". West J Med 173. 378-383
Daniels. J. (2004) "Fad Diets: Slim on good nutrition." Health Matters. 34 (12). 22-23.
Davies, J. (1994) "Fad Diets - Health Implications." Nutrition & Food Science. Oct 94(5). 22-24.
"fast food" Oxford English Dictionary Online. Accessed Nov. 3rd 2006.
French, A Story, M Neumark-Sztainer D et all. (2001) "Fast food restaurant use among adolescents: associations with nutrient intake, food choices and behavioral and psychosocial variables" International journal of Obesity. Volume 25, Number 12, 1823-1833