Obesity: No, Junk Food Is Not To Blame

Unfortunately, your doctor will probably never say that eating a Big Mac is healthy for you. But junk food is probably not the primary culprit of obesity in the United States, according to a recent study.

Researchers at Cornell University found that the intake of these treats is not related to body mass index (BMI) in 95 percent of U.S. adults.

"If we want real change we need to look at the overall diet, and physical activity. Narrowly targeting junk foods is not just ineffective, it may be self-defeating as it distracts from the real underlying causes of obesity," researcher David Just said in a statement.

Researchers reviewed a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States, revealing that candy, fast food and soda consumption are not linked to BMI in 95 percent of the population. However, in those who are very underweight or severely obese, eating junk food was linked to weight gain, according to The Chicago Tribune. But researchers found no significant difference in consumption of indulgent foods between overweight and healthy weight individuals.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the overwhelming majority of weight problems are not caused by consumption of soda, candy and fast food alone.

"This means that diets and health campaigns aimed at reducing and preventing obesity may be off track if they hinge on demonizing specific foods," Just added.
Furthermore, the path to a healthy weight is via diet and exercise, the researchers say.

Furthermore, researchers suggest that health officials examine overall consumption patterns, including snacking and physical activity, to dtermine how these may also influence weight, instead of just eliminating junk foods from a patient's diet. 

The findings are detailed in the journal Obesity Science & Practice.

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