Vidya B1, Damayanthi M. N2, Sharada R3, Shashikala Manjunatha4
BACKGROUND: Junk food simply means an empty calorie food; it lacks in micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, or amino acids, and fibre but has high energy (calories). During school-age years, children begin to establish habits for eating and exercise that stick with them for their entire lives. If children establish healthy habits, their risk for developing many chronic diseases will be greatly decreased. The family, friends, schools, and community resources in a child’s environment reinforce lifestyle habits regarding diet and activity.
OBJECTIVES: To study the fast food consumptions pattern and fast food preferences among the school going children (9-13yrs) and some of the determinants related to fast food consumption.
STUDY SETTING: Department of Community Medicine in an Urban field practice area of Rajarajeswari Medical College & Hospital, Bangalore.
STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.
STUDY DURATION: Three months duration (Oct–Dec 2014).
STUDY POPULATION: school students studying in Vth standard to Xth standard.
SAMPLE SIZE: The selected school had a strength of 200 students. Hence complete enumeration of the students was considered for this study.
DATA COLLECTION: by using pre-structured questionnaire by interview method. The variables included were socio-demographic profile, measurement of height, weight and questions related to junk food consumption and its patterns.
DATA ANALYSIS: using statistics software SPSS 20. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for anthropometric measurements. Test of significance for proportions was done by Chi- square test.
RESULTS: Among 200 study subjects, 107 were male (53.5%) and 93 females (46.5%). Majority of the students were in the age group of 12-15 years (66%) and 9-11 years (34%). Snacks (41%), Fast food (25.50%), soft drinks (17.50%) and candies (16%) were the favourite junk foods among the study subjects. Taste and time factors, watching television while consuming junk foods, advertisements regarding junk foods over the televisions, and the parents themselves getting these junk foods are some of the factors related to junk food consumption.
CONCLUSION: Awareness to the children regarding the harmful effects of junk foods must be stressed.Parents must play an important role in providing more nutritious food to their children and imparting physical activities so that they do don’t have the risk of developing obesity.
