Think before you eat your favorite burger or sandwich once again. Scientists have found that every eaten fast food product makes our body mass index increase by 0.03 points.
From 1999 to 2008, the number of fast-food meals in the annual diet of an average resident of a developed country has increased from 27 to 33. During the same period, the body mass index among the residents of the 25 richest countries in the world has risen from 25.8 to 26.4 on average. This means that most people in these countries are already overweight.
The researchers from the University of California at Davis found that with each new fast food dish (a sandwich, a burger or a slice of pizza) the body mass index rises by 0.03 points. The category of healthy weight includes the people whose BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9 points. The category of overweight people is for those whose BMI is in the range from 25 to 29.9. Finally, those whose body mass index is greater than 30 are considered to be victims of obesity.
According to the authors, the authorities may slow down (or even reverse) the obesity epidemic by taking action to control the consumption of fast food. Monitoring is required not only in catering. It is necessary to change the policies regarding nutrition and nutrients, agriculture, manufacturing, health care, social services, and education.
Researchers urge the governments of the countries most affected by the obesity epidemic to create economically beneficial conditions for companies to sell healthy food and severely restrict the advertising of fast food.
