Frequency of fast food consumption : effects on the nutritional status of groups aged 12-22 years

Abstract EN

Fast food consumption has increased greatly particularly among youth.

The attraction of eating fast food items makes the youth gain weight and badly affects their health.

To study the effect of frequency fast food consumption, 868 subjects (males and females) aged 12-22 years were selected randomly from clubs and youth centers in Alexandria city.

Socio-demographic characteristics, frequency and attitude toward fast food consumed, weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were recorded.

Dietary intake was estimated using 24 hours recall for 3 consecutive days.

It was found that consumption of fast food was prevalent between both genders.

Frequency of consumption of fast food showed that 38.7 % of subjects eat fast food frequently (group1) and 61.3 % of them eat fast food less frequently (group2).

Proportion of subjects with BMI greater than 85th percentile was significantly higher among group1 (36.9 %) than group 2 (28.9 %) indicating a risk of overweight and obesity of subjects, who eat fast food frequently compared with those who eat fast food less frequently, consumed higher intake of energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate.

Mean energy intake of males and females in group1 and group2 covered (85.3 %, 78.1 %) and (92.3 %, 84.1 %), respectively of RDA, while protein intake exceeded the recommendation for both groups.

Television advertisements have a significant influence on fast food consumption.

Only 22 % of group1 and 31.2% of group2 believed that fast food can cause disease cases, while 41.7 % of group1 and 43.2 % of group2 believed that consumption of fast food is harmless.

Animal protein was consumed in high proportion of subjects eat fast food frequently, while consumption of plant protein was high among those eat fast food less frequently.

Public health measures should be aimed at limiting the amount and frequency of fast food consumption.

This could include nutritional education campaigns, regulation of fast food advertising, getting rid of fast food restaurants in schools, and increasing healthy food vending's in youth centers, clubs, schools, and education foundations.