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by Talia Jayasekera

Fast foods - more a bane than a boon

Junk food served by mushrooming fast-food outlets throughout the city is becoming the rage with youngsters and adults alike. The days of fine dining at fancy restaurants are now being replaced by cheaply but elaborately decorated plastic and aluminium fast-food chains serving high-calorie foods on multi-coloured trays with sugary chilled colas of various flavours.

A concoction considered most delicious by teenage-yuppy standards. But this phenomenon does not end with the novices but has weaved a web of fascination even with the older generations, who prefer these chicken, beef and fish flavoured substitutes to healthy and nutritious food.

The weekend brings out these fast-food junkies for a bite at a popular haunt with family and friends. Hamburgers, steaks, pizzas, french fries, pastries and other varieties to choose from leave us staggering at the rapidity at which these chains open at countless locations. The brighter the neon lights, the higher the attraction.

One has to ponder the consequences of such a lavish, cholesterol infested lifestyle.

Obesity, heart ailments and heart attacks have become stealthy killers for our Sri Lankan people. Twelve million people die annually from heart attacks and strokes while a further 20 million suffer from non-fatal attacks and strokes. Local health officials recently reported that cardiovascular ailments pose a great threat to Sri Lankans causing nearly 18% of reported deaths in the country in 2001. This is a definite increase when compared with 1999 when deaths due to heart diseases rated at 15.8%.

Health officials deduce that a combination of improper diet, lack of physical exercise and tobacco are reeking havoc with our health. Heart attacks occur when the arteries, pumping blood to the heart, get clogged and cannot perform their functions. The clogging develops when fatty substances are deposited around the heart thus applying pressure and narrowing these already minute arteries.

"There is no doubt that junk food is very popular amongst Sri Lankan adults and children today. They think it is fashionable to follow in the footsteps of their American counterparts.

It is all about what is considered `cool' and that is why they enjoy going to such eateries. But the effects of consuming junk food will only be seen twenty or thirty years down the line. Right now drastic health effects are not so obvious to the common man but in the years to come, the outcome will speak for itself", said an official from the Health Ministry.

"Heart attacks are becoming increasingly common for our people. The heart is a very delicate organ and by consuming food cooked in large amounts of oil and other fatty substances, individuals are knowingly damaging the one thing that gives them life. In the past, it was the very old who died of attacks due to simple reasons such as old age which is a very natural cause. It is a part of the life cycle.

This has changed and now individuals as young as twenty-five could suffer a heart attack if they are not conscious of their health.

Men in their forties too worry about heart ailments because they know the effects of their diet and smoking but this fear does nothing to stop their damaging activities", he said.

"Lifestyles have changed dramatically. People are no longer inclined to stay at home and cook healthier meals. Instead they prefer to go out and eat at places where the food is served fast and is less of a hassle to their hectic ways of living. Though a few people are very health conscious - they exercise by walking in the evenings or going to a gym regularly, it is only a small number of people. The majority do not bother with exercise and continue eating unhealthy food and smoke."

"Adults make their own decisions but it is very sad to see parents encouraging their children, from a young age, to eat junk food. Of course it is a nice treat to eat out once in a while but now it has become a habit for some. They allow their small children to eat this food and then obesity comes into play. These children grow into overweight teenagers and the repercussions are not only health wise.

They become subject to malicious teasing and ragging from others their own age. The psychological effects coupled with the health threats are very serious", he said. "It should be the job of the parent to know when and where to draw the line. They are responsible for their children and should teach them good eating habits", he said.

"The Government should help introduce some law to standardize how fast food is prepared to reduce the heavy oil content that is used for the food. Most of these outlets claim that their food has less cholesterol, fats and is healthier but it is not the case. There should be more awareness programs carried out to inform people the harm they bring themselves with each bite. But the blame cannot be placed only on these outlets as it is a personal choice to consume junk food.

People should realise the risks and dangers and limit themselves from consuming such food on a regular basis".

Every four seconds, a heart attack occurs - an alarming statistic for anyone. This is not a killer that pays heed to race, colour or religion. It is a disease that gains ground with every life, young or old, that it claims.

Though Sri Lanka does not have as many fast food franchises as most Western countries, junk food is surely a popular convenience for all people. Its manifestation could result in new equally dangerous and drug resistant forms of heart ailments in the future. We are slowly but surely signing our own death certificate.

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