Barr-Anderson, Daheia et al. “Does Television Viewing Predict Dietary Intake Five Years Later in High School Students and Young Adults?” International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, vol. 6, no. 7, 2009, pp. 1-8.
Research studies have established a negative correlation between the nutrition of teenagers and the amount of time they spend viewing television. This article evaluates how this habit affects the dietary intake of the aforementioned groups based on the length of their sessions. The article is an appropriate resource because the writers explore the influence that the advertising of fast foods and sugar-sweetened beverages has on their diets. According to the findings of the study, the level of influence is largely determined by the number of hours spent engaging in the unhealthy habit. Among the younger participants, the effects were negative as heavy viewing resulted in low and high intakes of fruits and sugary drinks respectively. Among the older participants, prolonged viewing led to lower consumption of healthy foods, including vegetables and fruits, and higher consumption of unhealthy diets: fried foods and sweetened beverages. The authors conclude that heavy television viewing among high school students has a negative effect on dietary intake as advertisements encourage the consumption of unhealthy foods.
Chen, Li, Zhu, Haidong, and Yanbin Dong. “Race, Gender, Family Structure, Socioeconomic Status, Dietary Patterns, and Cardiovascular Health in Adolescents.” Current Developments in Nutrition, vol. 3, no. 117, 2019, pp. 1-11.
The dietary preferences of individuals determine their health outcomes, and they are highly influenced by factors that include race, socioeconomic status, level of education, dietary patterns, and gender. This source explores a study conducted by Chen et al. that aimed to investigate the relationship that exists among the aforementioned factors. They explain how these factors regulate the types of foods that young people in the southeastern region of the United States consume. The authors found out that the family structure and parental socioeconomic status played a significant role in determining the diets of teenagers. They grouped the different types of diets that they observed into four classes, depending on their nutritive values. Healthy diets were more prevalent among whites and females. High levels of education and lucrative occupations played a role in determining the children’s type of diet. Healthy diets were observed among adolescents whose parents were educated and working. On the contrary, unhealthy diets were associated with negative health outcomes such as high percentages of body fat, increases in blood pressure, and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases.
Crouch, Ian. Fast Food Doubles Down. The New Yorker, Web.
The diets of the majority of teenagers are unhealthy because they are largely comprised of fried and processed foods. This article discusses the restoration of a famous KFC snack that encourages consumers to eat fried foods and adopt a culture of unhealthy diets. One of the opponents of fast foods described it as a promotion of the culture of excessive consumption. The nutritional content of the offering is appalling as it contains roughly half of the recommended daily intake of sodium, cholesterol, and fat. Fried foods encourage poor dietary intakes among teenagers and young people because of their high-calorie contents. For example, some hamburgers are a demonstration of unhealthy eating as each piece contains more than a thousand calories. The food industry encourages unhealthy eating among adolescents by advertising their products on media platforms that are mainly patronized by young people. They present fast foods as delicious and healthy options. In that way, they encourage unhealthy eating behaviors that have adverse health effects.
“New Dietary Guidelines: What they Mean for You.” Tufts University, Web.
The release of dietary guidelines on healthy eating was well-received by many people because the recommendations are based on evidence-based research on how to attain positive health outcomes among people of all ages. This source is appropriate for the topic because it discusses proper nutrition based on the findings of scientific research studies. The guidelines outline vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, protein, and oils as the key components of a healthy diet. The authors of the guidelines encourage Americans to consume foods and drinks that have high nutritive values, making sure not to exceed the recommended calorie intake. These foods supply the body with nutrients that are needed for optimal functioning. High consumption of healthy foods is encouraged for better health outcomes and overall wellbeing. For instance, it is a healthier choice to consume roasted vegetables rather than fried ones. The major challenge of fried foods is limiting the calorie intake to recommended amounts. Americans are also encouraged to personalize their diets and limit the consumption of undesirable nutrients such as added sugars, saturated fats, and sodium.
Williams, Ronald D., Odum, Mary, and Jeff M Housman. “Adolescents Energy Drink Use Related to Intake of Fried and High-sugar Foods.” American Journal of Health Behavior, vol. 41, no. 4, 2017, pp. 454-460.
The consumption of fried and processed foods is one of the challenges that adolescents face with regard to their diets. This article explores a study that was conducted by Ronald et al. to evaluate the relationship between energy drinks, and the consumption of fried and sugary foods. The authors note that consuming energy drinks encourages the intake of other unhealthy foods among teenagers. For instance, individuals who consume energy drinks also like eating fried and high-sugar foods. The findings of the study augmented prior research that found out that the earlier the age of introduction to energy drinks, the higher the prevalence of risky dietary intake among adolescents. For example, individuals who consumed energy drinks were more likely to eat desserts, cake, candy, and fried chicken when compared to those who did not. The authors propose that nutrition education and initiatives to promote healthy living should focus on highlighting the dangers of the consumption of energy drinks among teenagers, and their association with unhealthy dietary choices.