Basically, it's anything that is high in calories but lacking in nutrition. Hamburgers, chips, chocolate bars and hot dogs fall in this category. Pizzas, although they can have vegetable and cheese toppings, are also included as they contain a lot of fat. Obviously, a diet of junk food is not the best thing for your health, particularly as it is highly saturated fat. In 1993, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported this type of fat to be associated with greater risk of cancer.

Apart from the risk of cancer, another side effect of consuming highly fattening junk food is that you are likely to gain weight. This is especially true because you tend to eat more, as junk food is less satisfying and lower in vital nutrients than healthier food. The best advice, then, for those who cannot live without their hamburgers or chocolate bars, is to limit the amount of junk food they eat.

Another alarming thing about people's lifestyle today is that while the amount of junk food we eat has increased, the amount of exercise we do has actually decreased. Exercise plays an important part in keeping the body fit and healthy; it helps to control our weight and, if taken regularly, can also decrease our chances of having a heart attack in later life. What is more, you don't have to exercise much to gain visible benefits. Twenty minutes three times a week is all that is necessary. Even though people nowadays are actually far more aware of the importance of exercise and a healthy diet then they were a few years ago. The new unhealthy way of life is surprisingly popular.

Recent research has shown that young French people, who prefer burgers and chips to rich gourmet dishes, tend to become overweight. Weight gained in adolescence is extremely hard to lose in later life, so researchers are predicting that the new French generations are not going to be admired for their slim figures as the French have traditionally been. Researchers suggest that the new generation will be much more likely to suffer from heart and liver disease. What can't be emphasized enough is the fact that a balanced diet and regular exercise bring significant health benefits.

You can gain anything from glowing skin to an all-round feeling of good health. One way or another, the vast majority of people seem to be missing out on this, due mainly to the pressures of modern life. Ironically, if they were to make time to exercise and improve their eating habits, they would probably find that they were far better equipped to deal with their stressful lifestyles than they are now.