Function

• A lot of people lead busy lifestyles. The main function of fast food is to give someone a quick and easy fix or alternative to cooking at home when they are in need of something to eat in a hurry. Another function of fast food is to give people a good bang for their buck. It is rather inexpensive and portions are more than sufficient.
  
  

Features

• Fast food is known for some very similar features. It is generally high in fat, calories, sugar and sodium, and it has no real nutritional value. Fast food also comes in various sizes that range from small to super. Still, there are actually some forms of fast food that are healthy. These would be pre-made salads with chicken breasts, low-fat dressings and low-fat milk shakes. There are even some fast-food chains that offer small salad bars with nuts, seeds, cottage cheese and fruit.
  
  

Identification

• A movie that came out in 2004 was about a man who ate nothing but fast food for 30 days straight. It was called "Super Size Me." Part of the deal was he had to eat three square meals a day and order everything on the menu at least one time. He was evaluated by doctors before and after the 30 days were up. When the feeding frenzy came to a close, he was told by doctors that if he kept on eating fast food, he would have developed a fatty liver which could have ultimately been fatal.
  
  

Effects

• Eating a lot of fast food has detrimental side effects. Being that it is so high in fat and calories, immediate effects would include gas, bloating, elevated heart rate and energy crashes. Continuous consumption of fast food over the course of months and even years can cause obesity, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, heart disease and diabetes, to name a few.
  
  

Considerations

• Consider the risks when eating fast food. Always look for low-fat options, stay away from deep-fried foods, leave heavy sauces and dressings behind the counter and try to limit soda consumption. According to CNN, an extra large soda alone from any fast-food restaurant weighs in at a whopping 400 calories. This is nearly one quarter of a woman's all-day caloric requirement.
  
  

Expert Insight

• A 21-ounce triple-thick shake from McDonald's has 21 teaspoons of sugar in it. Drinking high amounts of sugar every day causes sharp spikes in blood sugar, which causes the body to go into panic mode. The pancreas then releases insulin to augment this rapid rise. The blood sugar then drops to below fasting levels caused by an overcompensation of insulin release. This in turn causes the body to release hunger-triggering hormones that induce people to eat more. Keeping sugar intake to a minimum can not only stop this vicious cycle,but it can also retard weight gain.