Eating junk food on a regular basis increases the risk of being overweight and obese. It also causes high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, angina pectoris, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes and other chronic health conditions. Even though we all know the negative side of junk food, we all tend to consume it, some more than others. But why?

Why People Eat Junk Food?

1.   It’s Cheap

One of the main reasons why junk food is so popular worldwide is that it’s cheap compared to fruits or vegetables. With a couple of dollars, you can get a full meal of junk foods, while healthier foods cost more. 

2.   It’s Easy

Junk food is everywhere, meaning that you can easily get a snack or a junk meal anyplace. In every grocery store, instant meals are available, and snacks and sodas are sold in every vending machine. You can eat it in a minute or two, which is especially important when you are very hungry or have a busy schedule.

3.   It’s Tasty

Junk food is tasty. It is rich in sweets, fats, or salt, which gives them the rich taste. Fat makes junk food feel smooth and creamy. For some people, vegetables have a slightly bitter flavor, instead. 

4.   It Eases the Anxiety

Why people eat junk food? Junk food can help you ease the stress and anxiety. When in stress, there is an increased need for energy, making you feel hungry. Many people seek out junk food as comfort, in order to calm themselves. Junk food also has a positive effect on the reward center in the human brain, making you want to eat junk food more and more.

5.   You Suffer from a Lack of Sleep

When not getting enough sleep, people tend to eat junk food rather than healthy food. It has been estimated that sleep deprivation reduces the will power and motivates people to choose junk food high in sugar and fats, triggering the reward center of the brain. 

6.   You Are in Bad or Good Mood

Everybody has a certain mood food. We all have certain types of food we prefer to consume when a certain mood type strikes us. Donuts, chocolates, cookies or sodas as well as ice creams and pizza are everything we can think of when depressed. Sweet foods release certain opioids in our body and make us feel more euphoric.

However, we tend to eat junk food as a reward whenever we are in good mood too. That’s just how human nature is.

7.   Your Blood Sugar Level Is Low

Low level of sugar in the blood, commonly known as hypoglycemia, comes from eating foods low in calories or from eating on irregular intervals. It will make us crave for sweet food. Many readily sweet foods are junk foods.

8.   You Don't Exercise

Why people eat junk food? A lack of physical exercise and constant inactivity can leave us feel tired, making our body think that we need more energy. This is when we all seek junk food, especially sweet treats to help boost the energy. 

9.   You Drink Alcohol

Whenever you have a drink or two, you want something to eat as well. It has been estimated that drinking enhances the brain’s response to food smells. Booze also makes you get out of control when it comes to food, so instead of eating just a few chips you will rather end up finishing the whole package.

10.   You Eat with Your Eyes, Ears and Nose, Too

Whenever you see something delicious you want to eat it, don’t you? Whenever you hear about something delicious you want to eat it, don’t you? Whenever you smell something delicious, you want to eat it too, don’t you? Well, we all eat with our eyes, ears and nose. As junk food always has an illusion of good look and smell, resisting the temptation is quite hard.

11.   You Have Created a Habit of Eating Junk Food

Why people eat junk food? If you were always eating junk food instead of healthier options, it is normal that you will continue with your old habits. Changing the habit of eating a donut for breakfast or snacks before you go to bed is impossible or really hard.

12.   You Develop Addiction to Junk Food

You can even develop an addiction to junk food. Eating junk food on a regular basis results in changes in some neurochemicals in the brain, just like developing an addiction to drugs. After developing an addiction, you will just want to eat more and more junk food.