Question

Can Fast Food be treated as a high risk factor for heart disease and strokes for your country's population?

Answer 1

Fast-food has been associated with poor diet quality and higher intake of calories, saturated fat and sugar, believed to lead to heart disease. Higher body mass index (BMI), weight gain, and less successful weight loss maintenance are also associated with fast food. Since most fast foods contain highly processed meats and refined carbohydrates, sodium, total fat, saturated and trans fatty acids and cholesterol appear to be high. The combination of high protein, high saturated fat, high sodium, high added sugar levels and low fiber levels is a trend directly contrary to the recommendations for a healthy diet.

Individuals who consume fast food even once a week increase their risk of death from coronary heart disease by 20% relative to those who avoid fast food. The risk increases by 50 percent for people eating fast food two-three days a week, and the risk for people eating fast food products four or more times a week climbs to nearly 80 percent.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke as it affects the arteries ' lining, making them more vulnerable to plaque buildup, which narrows the heart and brain arteries. Approximately 78 million people in the US (1 in 3) have high blood pressure. Only about half (48%) of these people are under control of their high blood pressure. There is high blood pressure in about 7 out of 10 people who have a first heart attack and 8 out of 10 people who have a first stroke.

High LDL cholesterol can also double the risk of heart disease in a person. That's because excess cholesterol can build up in the artery walls and restrict blood flow to the heart, brain, kidneys, other organs, and legs of a person. Although about 86 million people in the U.S. may profit from taking medicine to control their elevated LDL cholesterol, only about half (55%) do so.