Junk Food Is Causing Deteriorated Mental Health Among Gen Z: Research

Jindal Naturecure Institute has done a research on people between 15 to 29 years and Gen Z (children born from 1995 to 2012) i.e., 8 to 23 years old. It has been found that children of Generation Z are physically very active. These children also do physical activity, but due to bad eating habits in children, their mental health is deteriorating.

90 per cent of Gen Z children who participated in this survey say that they do physical activity every day of the week, but 38 per cent say that they also consume fast food at least twice a week. 39 per cent of the children who do this have also suffered from mental problems like anxiety, eating disorder or depression.

It is clear in this survey that most of the children participating in it work hard to maintain better health, but the junk food consumed by them is creating danger for them in the long term. A survey on fast food found that consuming fast food more than once per week is associated with obesity, while eating fast food twice a week is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and coronary heart disease. Is.

Dr Babina NM, Chief Medical Officer, Jindal Naturecure Institute, Bangalore, said that most of the children included in our survey prefer exercise, but they are struggling with mental health. There is a risk of many chronic diseases due to this. Mental illness is caused due to imbalance of hormones and disturbance in sleep.

"It has been seen that when medicine is taken for the treatment of these mental illnesses, there is a possibility of side effects like weight gain or heart rate disturbances. When such children are in their mid-30s or 40s, these symptoms increase the risk of many physical ailments," he said.

There is an increased possibility of deteriorating physical health in those who experience mental illness. Mental illnesses can lead to unhealthy eating and sleeping habits, smoking or substance use. All these things can spoil physical health.

Dr Babina NM said, “Another interesting aspect of the survey was that around 85 people in the survey, up to 29 years of age, believe that alternative therapies like yoga, meditation and naturopathy help them to stay healthy." According to him, while the youth work to improve their lives, it is important for Gen Z to take care of their physical, emotional and mental health through yoga, meditation.