Did Unchecked Junk Food Consumption Kill UP Girl? AIIMS Doctor Says...

Last Updated:December 24, 2025, 20:05 IST

The deceased girl's family said she had been consuming junk and fast food regularly since childhood and showed little interest in home-cooked meals

The deceased, identified as Ahana, was a resident of the Afghanan area of Amroha. (News18 Hindi)

The death of a Class 11 student from Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha district has triggered a wider debate on the health risks associated with excessive consumption of junk and fast food. The girl’s family alleged that her fondness for foods such as pizza, pasta and instant noodles led to severe intestinal damage, eventually resulting in her death.

The deceased, identified as Ahana, was a resident of the Afghanan area of Amroha. Her family said she had been consuming junk and fast food regularly since childhood and showed little interest in home-cooked meals. According to them, she fell seriously ill in November and was first taken to a hospital in Moradabad, where doctors reportedly told the family that her intestines had adhered to each other and developed perforations.

As her condition worsened, Ahana was shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. Despite treatment, she passed away on Sunday, December 21.

Following the family’s claims, News18 spoke to Prof Dr Shalimar, a senior gastroenterologist at AIIMS, to understand whether junk food consumption could directly cause such a condition. Dr Shalimar said he was not aware of the specific clinical details of the case or the treating doctors involved but cautioned against drawing direct conclusions.

“The claim that junk or fast food can cause intestines to stick together or develop holes is misleading," he said, adding that while excessive consumption of ultra-processed food is harmful and linked to several serious health conditions, he had not encountered cases where such food directly led to intestinal adhesion or perforation. He noted that there could be other underlying medical reasons for the condition, or even alternative causes of death such as cardiac arrest.

Dr Shalimar explained that diets dominated by junk and fast food are nutritionally poor and lack essential vitamins and minerals. “High intake of refined flour, unhealthy fats and oils can lead to obesity, increased bad cholesterol, fatty liver disease and even liver damage. Such diets can disturb the digestive system and have long-term effects on the heart as well," he said.

He also pointed out that individuals who consume excessive junk food may appear overweight but can still be malnourished. Stressing moderation, Dr Shalimar advised that junk food should ideally be avoided. “If at all, it should be consumed occasionally, perhaps once a month. Making it a regular habit can severely damage the body," he said.

Emphasising preventive care, he recommended simple home-cooked meals with balanced nutrition, including adequate protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

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