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A great deal of attention has been given to the awful effects that smoking has on a person’s health. Though this is true, people are beginning to realize the almost equally devastating effects that bad eating habits have on a person’s health.

With busy schedules and hectic lifestyles comes a tendency to eat on the go, make less healthy meal choices, and even skip meals altogether. However, various careers in medicine have uncovered the damage that poor eating habits have on the body. Health issues from obesity to diabetes loom for many people in this day and age when junk food is so abundant. But in addition to the junk food craze, there is the problem of late-night eating, drinking too much alcohol, and skipping meals. These kinds of habits throw one’s body into a physical tailspin.

The results of bad eating habits are many; one is unnecessary weight gain. As eating schedules become erratic, individuals gain weight; as stress levels increase, individuals gain weight; as junk food becomes a staple, individuals gain weight. A person’s metabolism can be upset by poor eating patterns. Stomach functions can be set in unhealthy directions, and a poor diet can result in more frequent illness.

Additional concerns include the increased prevalence of food poisoning, which is common for those who overeat or eat irregularly. Unfortunately, poor eating habits also lead to an increase in diseases. Heart disease and diabetes are perhaps the most severe, but there is also the increased risk of high cholesterol and high blood pressure.