Effects of fast food

8 million Romanians suffer, consciously or not, because of extra pounds and 4.5 million of them, classified as obese, almost gave up the dream to make it to a normal weight. Eat more, bad and irregular, and thus become potential victims of heart disease, diabetes or cancer. The World Health Organization, soon, obesity will be more victims than even smoking.

Romania has proportions

America and Europe are facing what experts began to call his " obesity epidemic ", and our country is no exception. A third novel is overweight or, worse, obese. Causes, doctors say, are many: eat erratically, often because of the program, choose cheaper food and not necessarily more nutritious and tend to replace family foods prepared snacks sites or products type fast food . In addition, less than 2% of Romanians practice a sport regularly, shows the data obtained so far by the authorities by intermeniul National Program Evaluation Population health . Romania will continue to gain weight for young people today weigh more than those 10-20 years ago. In the European rankings, our country occupies third place in disturbing childhood obesity , with 90,000 little ones between 4 and 10 years. To limit the effects of the phenomenon, Romanian authorities banned the sale of products in schools encourage higher intake of fats and sugars , but the measure is far from sufficient, as long as students do not realize the implications of an unhealthy diet, doctors say. Adults, in turn, help fight weight. M inisterul Health and Health Insurance Agency recently approved the compensation by 50% of medicines in obesity.

Fast food, to blame for those extra pounds?

Statistics show that 65% of Americans are overweight or obese, while only 25% go daily thresholdsfast food restaurants. U.S. Department of Agriculture says that not every day to eat hamburgersand fries to go slave weight in addition. A table such a local often means excess calories and therefore can lead to obesity. Nutritionists warn that fast food products contain trace amounts of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamins A and C, essential for good functioning of the body. Incontrast , are rich in fats and carbohydrates , hence the high caloric intake. Obesity is more dangerous than smoking , says Prof. David King, of Oxford University, who discovered that stored fat can shorten our life even 13 years.

Experiment "Super Size Me"

In the name of science, but the show-biz, Morgan Spurlock , director, producer and TV writer, he wanted to draw attention to quantity and quality of all American menu, with an extraordinary experiment. He wanted to know how the body will react if, for 30 days, will eat only fast food foodand accept a larger portion every time restaurant employees will suggest this. Specialists in nutrition,cardiovascular diseases and internal have constantly monitored the health and says he even tried to induce him to quit. The documentary, after "fast food months" Spurlock has gained 11 kg, began to feel depressed, cholesterol had grown much, the liver begins to resemble that of an alcoholic and had even cardiac arrhythmia . Morgan Spurlock's theory is not entirely correct, said Swedish Professor Fredrik Nystrom, University of Linkoping, specialist in endocrinology and metabolic diseases. A similar study conducted by the team led by him had slightly different conclusions. At the end of 30 days, the 18 students participating weighed, indeed, with 5 to 15% more and felt extremely tired. However, for many of her liver problems began to improve after the third week, a sign that the body begins to adapt the menu. Another expert, Professor James Painter of Eastern Illinois University, USA, showed that not only quality food fast food consumed, but their quantity leads to obesity . For a new experiment similar to the " Super Size Me "Painter persuaded two students to eat junk foodfor a month, but without the calories exceed recommended dose. Both subjects have weakened and the end of the experiment, said they no longer crave fast food. Their story is presented in the documentary, "Portion Size Me".

Food fast food, responsible for one third of heart attacks

The price we pay for a hamburger is more than show the label. Frequently consumed these products we can be fatal, said Professor Salim Yusuf of Medicine from McMaster University in Canada. He said that food fast food is because a third of infarctions recorded in the world. The researcher analyzed data from 16,000 patients who have undergone this experience and were asked to complete questionnaires about their culinary obiceiule. It was found that followers regime called "Western" (based on fat, salty foods, eggs and meat) were 35% more likely a heart attack than patients who consumed less fatty foods and less meat . In contrast , those who prefer a "prudent diet" rich in vegetables and fruits are 30% less risk of making a heart attack , compared to average. Heart disease and obesity are, unfortunately, the only threats for the obese. Mark Pereira's team at the University of Minnesota, found that the long term, there is a link between fast food and diabetes type II . Those who ate two or more times a week at the restaurant, say the authors research, have a resistance to insulin two times higher than those who avoid such premises. The study consisted in monitoring the 3031 subjects between 18 and 30 years for a decade and a half. In Romania, nearly one third of the National Assessment Program evaluated the health risks of Population make diabetes .

Slow Food, alternativ health

Manuel Uribe came to have the weight of six men and half that consumed, according to him, large quantities of hamburgers, pizza and tacos . Oficalii Guinness World Records weighed him in 2006.Mexican had no less than 560 pounds. "Doctors told me that I have to choose between life and death," he says, "I chose life." As the most important victories are those that get against our ownpeople , Manuel now wants to break another record, this time of lost weight. Under the supervision of specialists, he managed to lose so far around 250 kg, based on the Zone diet , eating grapefruit, egg white, fish, chicken, vegetables and peanuts. solution to the problem of Manuel was changing style life, replacing fast-food products with healthy foods that have low or medium calorific intake and body are filled with natural elements. To change their lives for people like Manuel is the Slow Food movement, born in Italy in the late 80's. The over 85,000 followers in 132 countries promoting diet varied culinary traditions assert individual member and advocate of organic farming. To persuade young people to choose healthy foods, members of Slow Food organizes true "Woodstock" culinary sites. FACTS

• In Europe, Britons are the first among obese people, according to the International Association for the Study of Obesity. Scotland and England recorded the highest number of obese women, almost 60%, in contrast with Italy, France and Switzerland. For men, most of their weight problems Cypriots (73% are obese), followed by English (70%) and Scotland (65%). Lithuanians suffer the least of obesity. "Only" 45% of men are not within the limits of acceptable weight.
• Body mass index is calculated reporting weight (in kg) by the square of height (in meters).Normal values ​​are between 20 and 25. Those over 25 are considered overweight, and from 30 up to speak of obesity.
• One of the genes "responsible" for weight accumulation, FTO, is a peculiar feature: maintain hunger, even if the person has just eaten, says a study by researchers at the University of London.
• Fast food degrades memory, say experts at the University of California, USA. Excess sugar and fat lowers levels of a substance in the brain involved in learning and memory.
• Obesity is contagious. Researchers at Harvard University and the University of California at San Diego have discovered that a person with an obese friend has 57% more likely to become obese than a person who is not obese in his entourage. Explanation: when more people from a particular group gain weight, chances are high that others to follow "the example" since become more relaxed about weight.
• People who eat quickly three times more likely to become overweight than those who eat a normal rate, according to a study by researchers at Osaka University.
• A portion of kebabs contain up to one cup of oil, say researchers at Hampshire County Council, UK. If you eat two servings of kebabs a week, then create conditions of developing coronary heart disease, experts say.
• A simple hamburger contains between 250 and 350 calories, that is between 15 and 20% of the RDA.
• Women spend on average 10 years of life taking diets, says a British study.