Junk food is a derisive slang term for food that is of little nutritional value and often high in fat,

sugar, salt, and calories it is widely believed that the term was coined by Michael Jacobson, director of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, in 1972. Junk foods typically contain high levels of calories from sugar or fat with little protein, vitamins or minerals. Foods commonly considered junk foods include salted snack foods, gum, candy, sweet desserts, fried fast food, and sugary carbonated beverages. Many foods such as hamburgers, pizza, and tacos can be considered either healthy or junk food depending on their ingredients and preparation methods with the more highly processed items usually falling under the junk food category. What is and is not junk food can also depend on the person's class and social status, with wealthier people tending to have a broader definition while lowerincome consumers may see fewer foods as junk food, especially certain ethnic foods. Fast food addiction is a controversial subject. Some researchers believe that the fats and salts in fast food release the same pleasure chemicals in the brain as heroin does. Others believe that fast food is not addictive, and that the overeating thereof is a psychological problem. Philipson and Posner (1999) suggested a rational-choice model of food consumption and physical activity to examine the effect on weight of technological change that lowers both the price of food and the amount of physical exertion required at the work. According to Yossef Tobol (2008) the human body needs energy to function. Food is the fuel that creates this energy. It contains potential energy in the form of calories,4 which are burnt in the process of daily functioning. Energy that cannot be burnt is accumulated in the body in the form of fat tissues that increase body weight. Therefore, most theories of obesity borrow their major building block from thermodynamics, which is the study of energy. The First Law of Thermodynamics asserts that the change in the internal energy of a system is equal to the amount of energy added by heating the system, minus the amount lost as a result of the work done by the system. Applied to obesity, this law states that the individual will gain weight if total calories consumed exceed total calories expended. Calories are expended in physical activity, but also when the body is at rest. The latter component, known as Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), is actually the largest source of energy expenditure. It reflects the amount of calories needed to sustain life in a resting individual, since calories are also burnt with blood circulation, respiration and daily maintenance of body temperature. While the BMR is determined by physical characteristics (such as sex, age, weight and height), calories expended through physical activity, as well as calorie intake through food consumption, are subject to choice. The economic theory of obesity views weight gain as the outcome of

rational choice that reflects conscious willingness to trade off, given the proper incentives, some future health for the present pleasures of less restrained eating and lower physical activity. Consequently, even a weight-conscious individual may become optimally overweight. Economic models of obesity usually focus on food consumption in general as the source of energy. However, foods vary in their calorie content. In particular, junk food, which is the major concern of the fat tax program, is high in calories, whereas healthy food is low in calories. However in terms of physical aspect of the body there will always accompanied by various method and solution in order to overcome the issues such as exercise, maintain a healthy diet and keep living in a stress-free environment. The link between food and mood simply lies in getting enough of the good stuff found in the right foods. The human diet nowadays consists of a lot of junk food with very little nutritional value which makes people more tired and lethargic, and often leads to weight gain which has further negative effects on mood and self-esteem. In 2012, scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Granada studied almost 9,000 participants who had never before been diagnosed with depression. The half-year study, published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, clearly revealed that people who ate fast foods, fried foods and commercially baked pastry products were 51% more likely to develop depression diet compared to those that didnt. Almudena Sanchez-Villegas, lead author of the study, strongly encouraged people to avoid cakes, croissants, doughnuts, etc., as well as common fast foods such as hamburgers, hotdogs and the like. She stated even eating small quantities is linked to a significantly higher chance of developing depression. The researchers speculate that trans fats and saturated fats were the biggest problem, because trans fats trigger inflammation in both the body and brain. Inflammation can interfere with our brains neurotransmitters, thus affecting our mood. Andrew Weil, M.D. stated that it is that depression diet may represent just one manifestation of increased inflammation throughout the body. The fats in junk foods may well contribute to depression diet because they are proinflammatory. According Dr Andrew McCulloch because the dry weight of the brain is composed of about 60% fat, the fats we eat directly aff ect the structure and substance of the brain cell membranes. Saturated fats those that are hard at room temperature, like lard make the cell membranes in our brain and body tissue less flexible. Twenty per cent of the fat in our brain is made from the essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6. They are termed essential as they cannot be made within the body, so must be derived directly from the diet. Each fatty acid performs vital functions in the structuring of brain cells (or neurons), ensuring

that smooth communication is possible within the brain. Both are found in equal amounts in the brain, and it is believed they should be eaten in equal amounts. Unequal intakes of omega3 and omega-6 fats are implicated in a number of mental health problems, including depression, and concentration and memory problems. Experts suggest that most people consuming Western diets eat far too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3.The recent and widespread appearance of trans-fat in the diet raises great concern, primarily because these fats assume the same position as essential fatty acids (EFAs) in the brain, meaning vital nutrients are not able to assume their rightful position for the brain to function eff ectively. Trans-fats are prevalent and pervasive, found in processed foods like commercially-made cakes, crisps and ready meals. Neurotransmitters are messengers passed back and forth within the brain. They allow neurons to communicate information amongst themselves. Neurotransmitters are made from amino acids, which often must be derived directly from the diet. For example, the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is associated with feelings of contentment, is made from the amino acid tryptophan. Adrenaline and dopamine, the motivating neurotransmitters, are made from phenylalanine. The body of evidence linking diet with mental health is growing at a rapid pace. As well as its impact on feelings of mood and general wellbeing, the evidence demonstrates its contribution to the development, prevention and management of specific mental health problems. The implications are farreaching for all those with a stake in the care, treatment and prevention of mental illness. They must be embraced by stakeholders if current and future generations are to ease the growing health, economic and social burden of mental ill-health. There is an urgent need for policy-makers, practitioners, industry, service users and consumers to give proper credence to the role that nutrition plays in mental health. In term of social aspect here is one type of junk food that stood above all in becoming the factor in affecting the norm of humans through food which is fast food. Fast food is one kind of food that is prepared quickly, sold by restaurants and eaten by people at once or taken away. For example, McDonald is one of the most famous fast food restaurants. However, except for convenience, fast food has many negative effects on Asian culture in terms of the incidence of diseases, the influence on family and social life and the preference of exotic products. Fast food has conquered a huge market in Asia because its convenient. In big cities, people are usually busy with working and have no time to enjoy a big meal on weekdays. They prefer to order one set meal in a fast food restaurant. Then, they either eat at once or take the food back to office. Fast food is also more convenient for the hotels or restaurants to

prepare than the traditional food. So it is no wonder why thousands of fast food restaurants have sprung up overnight. Because of its convenience, fast food has won hearts of oriental people, but some of the people havent realized that fast food can bring a lot of h ealth problems.The growing appetite for fast food causes many health problems in Asia. Most of the fast food is high in fat and calories and low in fibre and complex carbohydrates, which risks a much higher rate of chronic diseases. A report by the Japanese Government shows the impact of fast food in Japan. It warns that although the Japanese continue to have the longest life expectancy of any nationality, there has been a significant increase in the mortality rate from colon, lung, rectal and liver cancer among men, while breast cancer among women is also on the rise. Besides, the cholesterol levels of children from ages 8 to 14 do not bode well for their future health. In a word, fast food has done much harm to Asians health; whats more, it has negative impact on their family and social lives. Fast food has super-sized many Asians and brought them much inconvenience in their family and social lives. More and more housewives prefer to buy fast food for their family members. They tend to eat them casually and separately. Its no good for the relationship of families since they have fewer opportunities to meet together and talk to each other. With more exotic products appearing, Asians affection on fast food gradually extends to the fondness of western lifestyle. As a result, traditional culture in orient has been lost. So fast food plays a very unfavourable role among the import because it has aroused the exotic products preference of Asiatic people. Overall, the components of the solution mentioned above constitute a well-rounded solution to the problem of the consumption of junk food. The aspects mentioned above address the source of the problem, its distribution, how to eliminate or reduce its availability, and how to raise awareness all the while getting more and more people interested and engaged in the subject matter. Also, it is imperative that peoples become concerned about junk food in the community as all of the individuals are responsible, caring, and intelligent individuals that want a healthier society, which can be achieved through the steps that can solve the issue at hand.