Consumption of takeaway and fast food by young adolescents is no longer confined to the developed countries; it has spread to the developing countries as well. The culture of fast food consumption has replaced the traditional meal among university students and is a great public health concern. Excessive consumption of fast food is responsible for obesity epidemics and the cause of a dramatic increase of obesity-related diseases (e.g. diabetes, heart diseases etc). A cross-sectional study was carried out from March to April, 2013 among students attending in four established private universities of Bangladesh situated in Dhanmondi, Dhaka: Daffodil International University, United International University, World University of Bangladesh, and State University of Bangladesh. The aim of the present study was to examine the preference, prevalence and pattern of fast food consumption among the students. The prevalence of fast food consumption among those students was 98.5%, and 43.3% of their pocket money was spent on its purchase. The important factors for the preference of fast food include good taste, easy accessibility, increased convenience, and pocket friendly in nature. Approximately 22% of the respondents mentioned that they consumed fast food 4 days per week and more than one-fifth had the meal every day. Fifty four percent of the respondents skipped their breakfast due to a variety of reasons including class pressure and had fast food after finishing their classes, either from varsity canteens or other fast-food outlets. Though 98% of the students were well informed about the negative effects associated with excessive fast food consumption, they were still profoundly addicted to it. Specific health education programs, dietary guidelines and effective public awareness campaigns could be initiated to address the unhealthy lifestyle of university students and improve their health.

<p>Fish possess an extremely strong cultural attachment considering irreplaceable animal food source in Bangladeshi diet beset with nutritional importance. It has been getting endangered by abominable practice of formalin in marketing leaded by some deceitful traders counting profit beyond ethical attainment and endangering public health. This paper outlines the formalin extremity with a several years practice in fish marketing involving almost 5% city markets with a petty heterogeneity comprising contrastive and potential strategy with formalin access. Regardless, this formalin corruption affiliated with deleterious health aggravations both for traders and consumers, comes out with impotency in workforce contravening economical influence on overall national prosperity.</p>

BACKGROUNDSmoking is an increasingly prevalent habit in Bangladesh, particularly among men with low socioeconomic status.AIMThe aim of this study was determining the prevalence and pattern of smoking among bus drivers of Dhaka city, Bangladesh.METHODSA cross-sectional study was carried out from 15 to 26 March 2013 among four hundred bus drivers of Dhaka city, Bangladesh aged between 18 and 50 determining the prevalence, pattern, and socioeconomic determinants of smoking. Data were input into a pre-designed access database with data management and analysis using standard statistical tools (SPSS-15) to assess significance through cross-tabulation.RESULTSThe overall prevalence of smoking among bus drivers was 93%, and 20% of their daily income was spent on smoking. Though most (32.3%) of the drivers started smoking before involving in driving profession, but excessive smoking had been promoted by occupational and environmental stress experiencing hectic work schedule. Individuals with no education were three times (odds ratio (OR) 2.8; 95% CI 1.2–6.13) more likely to be smoker. Smoking was detected among 53.2% of smokers aged 26 or above (χ2 = 8.30, P < 0.05), and they showed significantly high prevalence. The reasons behind smoking were almost exclusively habit (38.1%), peer influence (26.8%), and thinking of stress relief (25.3%). Smoking can also worsen poverty among users and their families because most of the drivers reported chest pain (34.4%), heart disease (25.8%), and other health complications caused by smoking depriving families of much-needed income and imposing additional costs of health care.CONCLUSIONInterventions and preventions by policy makers, public health experts, and other stakeholders should be introduced considering high prevalence of smoking among Bangladeshi bus drivers with detrimental health sequel.

Drinking large amounts of sugary beverages can increase the risk of gaining weight and developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other metabolic diseases. This study examined the preference, prevalence and pattern of sugar sweetened beverages consumption among university students of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study was carried out from February to April, 2017 among students attending in a private university of Bangladesh. One hundred fifty undergraduates responded (83.4% male, 15.9% female) in this study. Most students (95.4%) reported sugared beverage intake and 53.6% reported more than two days in a week intake. Male students were more likely than female students to report regular sugary beverages intake (85.4% vs. 14.5%). The main reasons for fast food consumption were: good taste and refreshing (80.1%), cost effective (6.6%), easy accessibility (2.6%), increased convenience (8.6%), peer influence (1.3%). Good taste and price were the most important factors in choosing beverages. Coca-Cola (49%), Fanta (25.8%), Sprite(9.9%) and Slice(14.6%) has been reported as mostly consumed beverages among students. Most students (54.5%) reported sugary beverages purchase from neighborhood convenient stores. 94.5% students said that if they would provide with healthful beverages within their food environment, they would prefer drinking healthful beverages (lemon water, non-sugary beverages) instead of sugar beverages. Self-reported sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among undergraduates is substantial and likely contributes considerable non-nutritive calories, which may contribute to weight gain. Specific health education programs, dietary guidelines and effective public awareness campaigns could be initiated to address the unhealthy drinking pattern of university students and improve their health.

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