Health
Ask a doctor: ‘Why do I keep eating foods that I know are bad for me?’
Most experts agree that nearly all foods are OK in moderation and that it’s fine to indulge now and then — but many Americans fall into patterns of continually making unhealthy choices, even though they want to stay on a healthy track.
Why do people continuously eat foods that they know are bad for them?
Fox News Digital spoke to two medical doctors about what’s driving this unhealthy behavior and how people can pivot their mindset to make smarter choices.
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The main reasons for this pattern are rooted in human nature, according to experts.
“Unfortunately, it’s just human behavior,” Jesus L. Lizarzaburu, M.D., a family physician with TPMG Grafton Family Medicine in Yorktown, Virginia, told Fox News Digital.
Many Americans fall into patterns of continually making unhealthy choices, even though they want to stay on a healthy track. (iStock)
“We tend to gravitate toward things that are enjoyable, and a lot of things that are bad for us are very enjoyable.”
Convenience and comfort can also factor into a repeated cycle of making poor food choices.
“There’s a reason they call a lot of these foods ‘comfort foods,’” added Lizarzaburu. “They bring us a lot of joy at a primal level.”
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When discussing dietary choices with his patients, Lizarzaburu said he attempts to learn about their preferences and behavior, delving into not only their food choices but also portion size.
“One common denominator that could help everyone is decreasing the serving size,” he said.
“We tend to gravitate toward things that are enjoyable, and a lot of things that are bad for us are very enjoyable,” one doctor said. (iStock)
Patients can also log what they are eating as part of setting health goals, the doctor suggested.
It’s important to enjoy and savor foods as well, he said, which can actually help to regulate consumption.
“We have forgotten to enjoy our food,” Lizarzaburu said. “We just eat because it’s time to eat, and we’re so busy that we forget to enjoy a meal. When we do enjoy a meal, we tend to eat less of it.”
How are food prices affecting unhealthy patterns?
Natasha Bhuyan, M.D., a family doctor with One Medical in Phoenix, Arizona, told Fox News Digital that the poor quality of many Americans’ diets isn’t an individual issue, but rather a systemic problem.
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“Processed foods are often more affordable than healthier options,” she said.
“When we do enjoy a meal, we tend to eat less of it.”
“They are also convenient, especially for people who are working long hours, families and other groups who may not have the luxury of time.”
Processed foods are often filled with sugar, starch, sodium and unhealthy fats, Bhuyan warned.
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“They also increase the risk of things like obesity, diabetes and heart disease,” she said.
How can people break the cycle?
To help patients get on a path to better health, Lizarzaburu said he often brings people’s feelings into the equation.
One doctor advises patients to prioritize their nutrition just as they would other important areas, like family, work and finances. (iStock)
“It’s worthwhile to appeal to emotion and help [patients] make a change for someone other than themselves, like for a child, parent or friend,” he said.
“That is a lot more powerful of a motivator than me telling them it’s good for them.”
Lizarzaburu also advises patients to prioritize their nutrition just as they would other important areas — like family, work and finances.
“As a family physician, rather than telling patients what to do, I like to engage in a conversation,” she said.
Simple changes, like cooking at home instead of eating out, can make a big impact, experts say. (iStock)
“After we establish the individual person’s motivation for change, we talk about what realistic changes they can make.”
In many cases, simple changes can have a lasting impact.
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This might mean drinking more water each day, adding more vegetables to dinner or cooking one meal at home rather than eating out.
“Small and practical changes are often the foundation for successful healthy changes,” Bhuyan added.
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Taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss may improve male fertility, according to experts.
Research presented this week at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, explored how obesity is strongly linked to fertility problems in men.
Excess weight can contribute to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis — the hormone system that regulates testosterone production — and functional hypogonadism, a condition in which testosterone levels are abnormally low because of disrupted hormone signaling. These changes can also impair semen quality.
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The researchers evaluated how GLP-1 weight-loss drugs impact reproductive hormones and metabolic outcomes, analyzing data of men between the ages of 18 and 65 who were taking one of the medications, according to a press release.
The systematic review of five randomized controlled trials focused on measuring testosterone, brain hormones involved in testosterone and sperm production, and a protein that carries sex hormones in the blood. Semen quality, weight and BMI, cholesterol and blood sugar were also measured.
Men with obesity and low testosterone linked to obesity may experience improved testosterone, sperm quality and metabolic heath while taking a GLP-1, the study found. (iStock)
The results suggested that GLP-1 medications do not suppress male hormones. Men with obesity and low testosterone linked to obesity may experience improved testosterone, sperm quality and metabolic health, especially during weight loss.
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In one four-week study, dulaglutide showed no significant changes in reproductive hormones or sexual function.
In a separate 16-week trial, liraglutide improved hormones in obese men with functional hypogonadism, meaning low testosterone was likely related to obesity. The review found that liraglutide was better for health outcomes than hormone replacement therapy.
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Another liraglutide study reported improved sperm concentration and count.
The study authors concluded that GLP-1s “do not appear to acutely suppress the male HPG axis and may improve reproductive hormones and semen parameters in obese hypogonadal men, largely within the context of weight loss.” (iStock)
A 24-week trial of semaglutide, known commercially as Ozempic and Wegovy, saw improvement in sperm shape and bad cholesterol, while preserving total testosterone.
As only five trials were included, the small evidence base suggests more research is necessary to prove further association.
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In an abstract of the research, the authors summed up that GLP-1s “do not appear to acutely suppress the male HPG axis and may improve reproductive hormones and semen parameters in obese hypogonadal men, largely within the context of weight loss.”
“However, evidence remains limited and heterogeneous, underscoring the need for larger RCTs explicitly powered to assess male reproductive outcomes,” they wrote.
“This provides early evidence that GLP-1 medications taken by obese men with hypogonadism/low testosterone (low T) improves testosterone levels,” one doctor said. (iStock)
Dr. Anthony Puopolo, men’s health expert and lead medical provider for RexMD, reflected on these findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“This provides early evidence that GLP-1 medications taken by obese men with hypogonadism/low testosterone (low T) improves testosterone levels,” he said.
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While more research is necessary, Pupolo, who was not involved in the study, shared his optimism about how GLP-1s can play a role in improving male fertility.
“If this finding continues to gain evidence, GLP-1s might be a better option for low T than testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in obese men – as GLP-1 medications preserve fertility, whereas TRT tends to be harmful to male reproductive/sperm function,” he added.
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