FAST FOOD AND POOR NUTRITION: HEALTH RISKS

Abstract

This scientific article provides a comprehensive analysis of poor nutrition as a major public health problem and examines the harmful effects of regular fast food consumption on human health. Poor nutrition is characterized as an unbalanced dietary pattern that fails to meet the physiological and biological needs of the human body, particularly due to excessive intake of high-calorie foods rich in fats, refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt, and food additives. The study highlights that fast food products are energy-dense yet nutritionally poor, lacking essential vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and biologically active compounds necessary for normal metabolic processes. Based on an in-depth review of scientific literature and international health data, the article demonstrates that long-term consumption of fast food is strongly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, hypovitaminosis, weakened immune function, and reduced work capacity. Special attention is given to the impact of poor nutrition on children and adolescents, as it negatively affects growth, development, and cognitive performance. The findings emphasize that unhealthy eating habits have both medical and social consequences and contribute significantly to the global burden of chronic non-communicable diseases. The article concludes that adherence to the principles of rational and balanced nutrition, combined with increased physical activity and nutritional education, plays a crucial role in disease prevention, health promotion, and the improvement of overall quality of life.