Q. How often should my teenage kids eat fast food?

A. No more than twice a week, according to a recent US study. The CARDIA study, the first over the long-term to investigate the link between fast-food consumption and ill health, showed that the more fast food consumed the greater a person's health risk.

It reported that teens who eat fast food regularly are far more likely to gain weight and develop insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, concludes a US study.

Young adults who consumed fast food two or more times a week experienced significant weight gains of approximately 4.5 extra kg and doubled their increase in insulin resistance, compared to participants whose fast-food consumption averaged less than once per week.

It's good to see some chains offering salad menus, fruit and cereal options, and scaling down the size of their portions.

Image courtesy of avlxyz via photopin