3. Obesity
Here’s a danger that appears to have actually increased over the years. As processed foods invaded store shelves to a larger extent in recent decades, young people can no longer assume that something is good to eat just because it can be found in the supermarket. Processed foods have little nutritional value, and are loaded with harmful ingredients such as high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, and pesticide residue. Obesity that can easily result from eating what is considered a “normal” diet in today’s world, which can lead to serious health problems like high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Rates of obesity have increased significantly in recent years and have tripled since the 1970s.