In fact, higher fat and total energy intakes are linked with consumption of takeaway and fast foods which offer a variety of ready-to-eat meals and energy-dense foods ( Reference Lachat, Nago and Verstraeten 12 ). Two longitudinal prospective studies including young adults aged 18–30 years, with 3 to 15 years follow-up, found that increased frequency of fast-food restaurant visits ( Reference Bowman, Gortmaker and Ebbeling 10 ) and consumption of fast food ( Reference Woodruff and Hanning 11 ) can lead to increased body weight (follow-up v. Overconsumption of energy-dense foods derived from fast and convenience food outlets is believed to be an important contributor to the increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes among young generations ( Reference Anderson and Butcher 8, 9 ).
#ISERIAL READER JUNE 2017 DRIVER#
The main driver of overweight and obesity is believed to be the imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, mainly due to the overconsumption of energy-dense foods that are known to be high in fat and sugars as well as an increase in sedentary lifestyles ( 7 ). For example, the availability, accessibility, portion size and cost of different food types both at home and in surrounding food outlets are all influential ( 6 ). In addition, the food environment also plays a crucial role in individual behaviours and food choices.
#ISERIAL READER JUNE 2017 FREE#
In the UK, observational studies report that lower socio-economic groups consume less oily fish, fruits and vegetables, but more red and processed meats and foods and drinks high in free sugars compared with higher socio-economic groups ( 5 ). The many different causes of childhood and adulthood obesity such as socio-economic inequalities also include factors related to deprivation, education level and ethnicity. Poor diet, particularly due to intake of foods high in sugar and fat, is one of the major threats to health and well-being ( 4 ).
![iserial reader june 2017 iserial reader june 2017](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PVkAAOSwW2ZelP3l/s-l640.jpg)
Many diseases exist not only as a result of increasing rates of obesity and overweight among children, but also because of the unhealthy diets of children ( 3 ). According to WHO, CVD were responsible for the largest number of deaths in 2015 ( 2 ). The significant global rise in diet-related non-communicable diseases indicates that there are serious nutritional issues in both developed and developing countries ( 1 ).