Eating Junk Foods

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Obesity
Junk food plays a major role in the obesity epidemic. By the year 2050, the rate of obesity in the U.S. is expected to reach 42 percent, according to researchers at Harvard University. Children who eat fast food as a regular part of their diets consume more fat, carbohydrates and processed sugar and less fiber than those who do not eat fast food regularly. Junk food in these children's diets accounts for 187 extra calories per day, leading to 6 additional pounds of weight gain per year. Obesity increases your risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many other chronic health conditions.

New Zealand's adults[edit source | editbeta]
Out of a total estimated population of 4.3 million in 2008,[3] the Ministry of Health's studies show that roughly 1.13 million New Zealand adults are overweight (BMI between 25.0 and 29.9),[4] with an extra 826,000 obese (BMI over 30.0).[4] The 2008 figures, which represent samples from 2006 and 2007, show that 25% of New Zealand adults are obese, a slight increase from 2002 and 2003 (24%) but a wide rise from 1997 (19%).[1] If current trends are to continue, the obesity rate will rise to 29% by 2011.[5]
Obesity is more prevalent in New Zealand, females from age 5 until the age of 34, at which time the males overtake the females in terms of percentage.[1] After essentially coming in at a dead heat in the 55 to 64 bracket, female obesity becomes a higher risk for 65-74 year olds than it does for males, only to switch odds again after 75.[1]
New Zealand's children[edit source | editbeta]
As of 2004, over 30 percent of children in New Zealand were classified as overweight.[6] In the 2008 figures, 8.3% of children ages 5 to 14 in New Zealand were classified as obese.[1] While more numerous than the same demographic in Australia (between 5 and 6%),[7] the number of obese children actually declined from a record high of 9% set in 2002.[1] Starting in 2006, the government has worked to cut high-fat foods and high sugar drinks from school cafeterias, and also to curb advertising for junk food during daytime television hours, these moves are being credited with slowing the rate of obesity in New Zealand, especially among the young.[8]
Māori, Asians and Pacific Islanders[edit source | editbeta]
In the 2008 report, adults of Māori and other Polynesian descent had a much higher rate of obesity than white New Zealanders.[1] The rate for the Pacific peoples were nearly triple the white average, while Māori reported nearly double the white rate. 65% of adult Pacific New Zealanders and 43% of adult Māori were obese, compared to 23% of white adults.[1] 12% of Asian New Zealanders were obese. Out of all the ethnic groups surveyed, only the Asians reported a large increase in obesity from the 2002 statistics.[1]

Obesity
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital to preventing obesity. This needs to include regular exercise and healthy eating.
If you're obese, it means: * you’re excessively overweight * your weight is above what it should be, for you to be healthy.
Being obese puts your health at serious risk. Obesity can cause diabetes, high blood pressure, cancers, arthritis, stroke and heart disease.
Most doctors and health professionals in New Zealand use the Body Mass Index (BMI) to establish whether people are obese. Your BMI is a number worked out from your height and weight to indicate whether you’re a healthy weight.