---
title: Junk Food: Hurts Kidneys Like Diabetes and Harms Weight
description: Junk food harms the body in ways beyond weight gain, like disrupted hormones, changes in taste, and greater risk for mental health problems.
canonical: https://time.com/4322930/how-junk-food-wrecks-your-body/
author: Alexandra Sifferlin
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2016-05-10T04:15:10.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:50:31.669Z
article:section: Health
og:title: Junk Food: Hurts Kidneys Like Diabetes and Harms Weight
og:description: Junk food harms the body in ways beyond weight gain, like disrupted hormones, changes in taste, and greater risk for mental health problems.
og:url: https://time.com/4322930/how-junk-food-wrecks-your-body/
og:site_name: TIME
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og:image:alt: TIME.com stock photos Food Snacks Candy Chocolate
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twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Junk Food: Hurts Kidneys Like Diabetes and Harms Weight
twitter:description: Junk food harms the body in ways beyond weight gain, like disrupted hormones, changes in taste, and greater risk for mental health problems.
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta3205ed9ad17943c/6987788fa988ca67746abbdd/food-candy-snacks-1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9
---
# How Junk Food Wrecks Your Body
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> Last updated: September 2026.
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## Video: Should I Eat French Fries?
[Watch (HLS stream): Should I Eat French Fries?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/kL7utfHP.m3u8) (2:30)
_Published 2015-06-10. A record number of experts weighed in on this one, and regretfully, 7 out of the total 9 give French fries a firm thumbs down._
by
[Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/)
## Alexandra Sifferlin
May 10, 2016 4:15 AM UTC
by
[Alexandra Sifferlin](https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/)
## Alexandra Sifferlin
May 10, 2016 4:15 AM UTC
It’s no surprise that [junk food](http://time.com/3821475/junk-food-diet-metabolism/) is low in healthy nutrients and high in ingredients like [sugar](http://time.com/3687808/this-is-the-number-1-driver-of-diabetes-and-obesity/) and salt. But [new animal research](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP085670/full) suggests that a diet high in [junk food](http://time.com/3939974/sugar-junk-food-depression/) might harm the kidneys in a similar way to type-2 diabetes.
In the [study](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/EP085670/full), published in the journal _Experimental Physiology_, rats were fed a junk food diet of chocolate bars, marshmallows, biscuits and cheese for eight weeks. Other rats were fed chow that contained 60% fat for five weeks. By analyzing the rats’ blood sugar levels and the function of blood sugar transporters in the rats’ kidneys, the researchers were able to see what happened to the kidneys of rats that ate junk food and fatty foods, compared to the kidneys of rats with diabetes.
All of the groups experienced “very similar” negative effects and increases in blood sugar levels, says lead study author Havovi Chichger, a senior lecturer in Biomedical Science at the Anglia Ruskin University in the U.K.
The study was small and used rats rather than people, so the results can’t be extrapolated to humans. “Animal studies provide insights about potential effects in people, but they rarely provide definitive answers,” says Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center, who was not involved in the study. “Animal research is most meaningful when interpreted in the overall context of established evidence. In this case, we certainly already knew that junk food is not good for us. so this is not a great surprise.” In humans, eating a diet high in sugar has been shown to interfere with a person’s blood sugar levels and [increase their risk for type 2 diabetes](http://time.com/3687808/this-is-the-number-1-driver-of-diabetes-and-obesity/).
This is not the first study to suggest that junk food does more to your insides than simply add fat around the middle; it can also [disrupt hormones](http://time.com/4289704/fast-food-hormones/), [change a person’s sense of taste](http://time.com/3195476/junk-food-boring/?iid=sr-link3) and even raise the risk for [mental health problems](http://time.com/3939974/sugar-junk-food-depression/?iid=sr-link2). A 2015 study published in the journal _Mayo Clinic Proceedings_ found that a calorie from sugar is much more dangerous to the body than a calorie from other carbohydrates, like starch. Added sugars were linked to poor insulin levels and blood sugar, as well as harmful fat storage around the belly, which promotes problems like inflammation and high blood pressure. Another [study](http://time.com/3939974/sugar-junk-food-depression/?iid=sr-link2) published in the _American Journal of Clinical Nutrition_ looked at questionnaires from around 70,000 women and found that diets higher in added sugar and refined grains, like white bread, were associated with a higher risk for depression a few years later. Sugar had an especially strong link, and healthier foods, like fiber, fruits and vegetables appeared to have a protective effect. The study only found a correlation, but overeating sugars and refined starches can increase inflammation and risk for heart disease, both of which have been linked to depression, the study authors said. Eating junk food and can increase the risk for insulin resistance, which has been associated with cognitive problems also found among people with depression.
### QUIZ: Should You Eat This or That?
Which is better for you: Half cup of ice cream or 3 scoops of sorbet? Getty Images (4)
Answer: A half cup of ice cream If you eat what you’re craving, you’re more likely to feel satisfied and eat less. And scoop for scoop sorbet contains twice the sugar with none of the filling dairy protein and fat. Getty Images (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Real butter or spray on fake butter? Getty Images; Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: Butter Serving size for spray butters (even low-calorie ones) are around a 1/3 second spray. What on earth does that mean? You're better off using a small amount of real butter as opposed to guessing how much you're using of the mystery melange of up to 20 ingredients. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: A turkey burger or a sirloin burger? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Sirloin burger Restaurant turkey burgers are often made with dark meat and the skin, so they’re not necessarily better for you (and for the record, they aren't low-fat). You can get a sirloin burger that’s 95% lean meat and gives you 20 g of protein. Just be careful with the toppings. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Almonds or pretzels? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Almonds Almonds are high in protein, fiber and fat and will keep you feeling fuller longer. Give high-sodium pretzels about an hour and you'll feel hungry again thanks to the high-carb no-fat or protein content. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Special K or eggs? AP; Getty Images
Answer: Eggs In the morning, you want a meal that will fill you up. Eggs offer protein and fat for satiety, but Special K cereal really only offers carbs and, well, air. If you want carbs to kick off the day, you're better off pairing eggs with a slice of 100% whole grain toast. Getty Images (1); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Fat free salad dressing or regular salad dressing? Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: Regular salad dressingTo absorb fat soluble vitamins like Vitamins E and K in vegetables you need to consume them with a fat to aid nutrient absorption. Fat-free dressing, meanwhile, is low-calorie but gets its flavor from added sugar and salt. Tara Johnson for TIME (5); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: A low fat cookie or dark chocolate? Getty Images (2)
Answer: Dark chocolate “People believe fat free is calorie free,” says Keri Gans, a registered dietitian in New York City. “Go for the real thing.” Fat free cookies tend to be high in carbs, sugar and fake sugar. Try a nice piece of antioxidant-rich dark chocolate instead. Getty Images (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Which is better for you: Low fat Greek yogurt or 100 calorie Yoplait yogurt? Tara Johnson for TIME
Answer: 2% Greek YogurtA little fat is good in the morning to keep you full—plus it has upwards of 17g of protein per container. Fat-free "fruit" yogurt is high in sugar—7 to 10 g per serving—and lower in protein. Tara Johnson for TIME (2); Gif by Mia Tramz for TIME
Eating junk food can also change the way our bodies react to certain foods; a small April 2015 [study](http://time.com/3821475/junk-food-diet-metabolism/?iid=sr-link1) found that just five days of eating processed food was enough to [dramatically alter](http://time.com/3821475/junk-food-diet-metabolism/?iid=sr-link1) a healthy person’s metabolism. A diet high in processed food can also expose people to chemicals they may not know they’re eating, [recent research found](http://time.com/4289704/fast-food-hormones/). People who ate at least 35% of their total calories from fast food in the past 24 hours had up to 40% higher levels of phthalates—chemicals that have been linked to issues like hormone disruption and lower sperm count.
Taken together, the latest research shows that food affects the body in myriad ways and bolsters the case to cut back on processed foods. “Junk is not food, and food is not junk,” says Katz. “Junk should not be a food group.”
## Transcript
Should you eat French fries? A record number of experts weighed in on this one, and sadly seven out of nine of them gave French fries the firm thumbs down. [ MUSIC ] Jonathan Bonnet says they involve frying, salting and removing one of the healthiest parts of the potato. The skin, where many of the nutrients and fiber are found. It's a scary thought considering that french fries are the number one vegetable consumed by toddlers as young as 15 months. A medium order of fries as 365 calories. Calories. 17 grams of fat. 264 mg of sodium. And sometimes, even sugar & trans fat. When potatoes are made into fries they no longer have any nutritional redeeming values, says Kristin Kirkpatrick.
What's more, french fries usually come with burgers, and both are often used as vehicles for sugar laced ketchup and fatty mayo, says David Katz. Let's face it. It's very hard to stop eating these things he says. One study found that foods high in fat and refine carbohydrates are likely to be addictive. On a much stranger note, french fries may mess with your eyes according to the work of Chung Jung Chiu. He found a link between foods popular in the western diet, including french fries, An age- related macular degeneration. All of which makes a compelling case for fries as a selective treat, says Alice Lichtenstein.
Nearly half of the experts we talked to warned about the carcinogen acrylamide, a chemical that forms in some foods when they're cooked at high temperatures by frying, roasting, or baking. Even at low concentrations it accumulates over time and may contribute to diseases like cancer says Allal Ouhtit. You should limit your intake of french fries say Eric Morrissette, but eating them occasionally isn't likely to be a health concern. One way to cut down on the toxin is to cook fries for less time in good oil that hasn't been reheated says Vincenzo Fogliano. Steve Elmore agrees He's research acrylamide since 2002, but doesn't think there's enough to prove that it causes cancer in humans.
For those of us with a french fry fetish, it's tough news to hear, but on the plus side, any food this bad for you must taste oh so good, a fact you'll savor when you'll sparingly treat yourself to a small order of fries. [ MUSIC ]
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