Junk food makes rats lose appetite for balanced diet

A diet of junk food not only makes rats fat, but also reduces their appetite for novel foods, a preference that normally drives them to seek a balanced diet, reports a study published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Psychology.

Junk food in pregnancy linked to childhood mental disorders

"During pregnancy, it can be hard not to give in to those cravings for unhealthy foods. But researchers have found that mothers who eat junk food while pregnant are more likely to have children with mental health problems."

Results of the study reveal that mothers who eat more unhealthy foods during pregnancy, such as sweet drinks, refined cereals and salty foods, have children with increased behavioral problems, such as aggression and tantrums.

Additionally, the findings show that children who eat more unhealthy foods in their first years of life, or who lack nutrient-rich foods such as vegetables, also show increased aggression and behavioral problems, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Childhood obesity epidemic is clearly tied to easy availability of junk food

There's no real mystery here," said Willett. "In some ways, the obesity epidemic is the inevitable consequence of our capitalistic food supply. Food and beverage companies are competing with each other to get people to buy their products, and they work hard to make those unhealthy products even more seductive to kids

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-09-childhood-obesity-epidemic-tied-easy.html#jCp

Futurity.org – Junk food inflames fatty tissue more than lard

Junk-food diets spur inflammation more than saturated fats alone

(Medical Xpress) -- A diet based on American junk food could lead to more obesity-induced inflammation than a diet high in animal fat, according to a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.