Consuming junk food can lead to short and long-term health complications, including weight gain, diabetes and heart problems.
Fast food and health
Research indicates that fast food promotes insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, as well as weight gain.
Eating junk food on a regular basis can lead to an increased risk of obesity and chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and some cancers.
Eating unhealthy potato foods, such as chips and french fries, increases your risk of type 2 diabetes and complications, such as heart disease and obesity.
Possible effects. Junk foods may contribute to diabetes in the following ways: Rapid effect on blood sugar levels: Highly processed foods that are high in calories and low in vitamins, minerals, and fiber break down quickly in the body and can cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels.
Excessive amounts of added sugars have been associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, likely due to negative effects on the liver and a higher risk of obesity. Natural sugars like those found in fruits and vegetables are not linked to diabetes risk — whereas artificial sweeteners are.
Stress alone doesn't cause diabetes. But there is some evidence that there may be a link between stress and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Our researchers think that high levels of stress hormones might stop insulin-producing cells in the pancreas from working properly and reduce the amount of insulin they make.
Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent, or adult-onset) results from the body's ineffective use of insulin. More than 95% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity.
Remember that junk foods are okay to eat occasionally, but they should not make up more than 10% of your daily energy intake. In a day, this may be a simple treat such as a small muffin or a few squares of chocolate. On a weekly basis, this might mean no more than two fast-food meals per week.
Long-term effects of eating junk food
Eating a poor quality diet high in junk food is linked to a higher risk of obesity, depression, digestive issues, heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and early death.
The combination of fat and sugar make junk foods addicting and easy to overconsume. Still, completely avoiding them may not be beneficial. Enjoying your favorite treat on occasion is a more healthful and sustainable approach for most people. If you're worried about trigger foods, talk to a healthcare professional.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with prediabetes often develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years if they do not get treatment.
One in three US adults isn't getting enough sleep, and over time, this can increase the risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression.
It's not always possible to reverse type 2 diabetes. But even if you can't get your blood sugar levels down with lifestyle changes alone and still need medication or insulin, these healthy habits help better manage your condition and may prevent complications from developing.
There's no cure yet, but our scientists are working on a ground-breaking weight management study, to help people put their type 2 diabetes into remission. Remission is when blood glucose (or blood sugar) levels are in a normal range again. This doesn't mean diabetes has gone for good.
Type 2 diabetes is primarily the result of two interrelated problems: Cells in muscle, fat and the liver become resistant to insulin. Because these cells don't interact in a normal way with insulin, they don't take in enough sugar.
Diabetes is caused by eating too much sugar. False. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have a genetic component, but there also needs to be a trigger that takes that genetic risk and turns it into diabetes. With type 1 diabetes, researchers don't know what the trigger is.