The real cost of fast food will not be found on the menu boards

In the Caribbean, we have seen a significant increase in the availability and consumption of fast food over the last 50 years.

Concurrently, and not coincidentally, we are seeing a tsunami in chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that are asphyxiating our region.

NCDs are ravaging our health, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Almost no Caribbean family has been spared.

Our Caribbean governments have been forced to allocate scarce resources for the management of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, dementia, cancers, and other NCDs. As a consequence of NCDs, our social security systems have no choice but to pay out considerable sums in sickness and disability benefits.

Fast food is a mass-produced processed “food” that is quickly prepared, placed in a container or wrapper, and can be consumed at the place of purchase or taken away.

Most purveyors of fast food seem to be willfully oblivious to the health-disruptive and life- abbreviating impact their offerings are having on their customers.

Characteristics of fast food

In most instances, the “food” available at fast food outlets has one or more of the following characteristics:

Low in nutritional value
High in calories
High in trans fats
High in salt
High in sugar
High in artificial additives

The most popular fast food items in the Caribbean

French fries
Fried chicken
Hamburgers plus cheese and or bacon
Pizza
Wings
Chicken nuggets
Chicken sandwiches
Biscuits
Potato wedges
Rotis
Rolls
Wraps
Club sandwiches
Sodas
Ice cream

Profile of consumers and circumstances that drive fast food consumption:

Lack of time to prepare a home-cooked meal
Dearth in cooking skills
Primarily between 20 and 40 years
Many are single
Overweight/ obese individuals
Higher-income earners
Often, young children are in the household
Socializing with friends
Habit – e.g. weekend outing with family
Outlets are strategically located
Offerings and specials heavily advertised in media – traditional/ social
Presence of extra trappings – e.g. play park
Item often costs less than healthy food options

The most unhealthy fast food items are:

Bread based
Fried
Sugary (drinks and ice cream)
Potato based (French fries, wedges)

The addictive nature of fast food

Shortly after consuming fast food, a very powerful neurotransmitter, dopamine, is released in the brain. Dopamine is the backbone of the reward system. Over time many of us develop a craving for foods that stimulate the release of dopamine. The ingredients in fast foods that are most likely to stimulate dopamine’s release are salt, sugar, fats, and artificial additives. Science has shown that the most addictive fast food items are pizza, ice cream, French fries, cheeseburgers, soda, and fried chicken.

Health complications linked to fast food consumption in adults

Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
Heart disease
Stroke
Kidney disease
Obesity
Reduced lung capacity
Autoimmune diseases
Cancers – Especially breast, prostate, colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian
Poor memory
Dementia
Reduced fertility
Constipation
Depression
Sleep apnea

Children who consume fast food often are more prone to:

Asthma
Tooth decay
Joint problems
Obesity
Constipation
Eczema
Poor academic performance
Reduced energy
Behavioral issues
Type 2 diabetes
Elevated blood pressure
Sub-optimal health in later years.

Benefits of avoiding fast food

Loss of weight
Improved heart health
Reduced chances of stroke
Reduced chances of diabetes
Reduced chances of hypertension
Reduced chances of cancer
Improved memory
Improved academic performance
Improved mental health
Increased longevity

Mitigating the health impact of fast food

Plan your meals.
If eating out, make a conscious effort to choose healthy options.
Take to work and send to school healthy meals and snacks.
Stop rewarding children with a meal from a fast food outlet.
If feeding a child with fast food, the parent or guardian should choose what the child eats.
Get everyone in your family, especially your children, to pledge to avoid fast food.
Try to avoid getting extremely hungry. When in such a state you are more likely to seek fast food.
Control stress. Stress an often result in stress eating.
Make cooking classes mandatory for ALL secondary school students.
Cut out soft drinks and commercial juices and drink water. This way you can quench your thirst without taking in extra calories.
Make a conscious effort to replace burgers with grilled chicken
Replace fries with a salad.
Treat your sweet tooth naturally by eating more fruits
Eat more protein
When it comes to food choices, parents/ guardians need to be good examples for the children
Caribbean ministries of health should periodically conduct public education campaigns on the health dangers of fast food.
Planning permission should not be granted to fast food outlets applying to open within a 1-mile radius of schools.
Governments should ban fast food advertising on government-owned radio/ TV stations.
If you regularly consume fast food, have your doctor check your weight, blood pressure, calcium, vitamin D, complete blood count, blood sugar, kidney function, and lipid/cholesterol profile.

Author: Dr. C. Malcolm Grant – Family Physician, c/o Family Care Clinic, Arnos Vale, www.familycaresvg.com, clinic@familycaresvg.com, 1(784)570-9300 (Office), 1(784)455-0376 (WhatsApp)
Disclaimer: The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Dr. C. Malcolm Grant, Family Care Clinic or The Searchlight Newspaper or their associates, respectively, are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information provided above.