Association of Household Type and Fast-Food Consumption in Korean Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Due to changing household types and weakening of family functions, children have fewer opportunities to develop healthy lifestyle patterns from contact with family members compared to the past. In this paper, we evaluate the association between household type and adolescents’ fast-food consumption, focusing on whether they were living with their parents or not, and determine their reasons for not living with their parents. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior web-based survey between 2017 and 2020. The subjects were students in grades 7–12. The outcome variable was a frequency of fast-food intake of ≥5 times per week. The main independent variable was the type of household: (1) living with both parents; (2) living with a single parent (one of father, mother, stepfather, stepmother); (3) not living together, but having parents; and (4) having no parents. Results: Participants without parents were more likely to eat fast food frequently than those living with both parents. Among boys, not having parents and living in a dorm or boarding house or living with other family members or relatives were significantly associated with frequent fast-food intake; among girls, not having parents and living in a dorm or boarding house were significantly associated with frequent fast-food intake. Conclusion: Adolescents having no parents have a higher risk of frequent fast-food intake than those living with both parents. Further studies are needed to address household types in greater detail.

Dietary intake and occupational status among female youths of Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

“…In line with other research, our study documented a low intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and dairy products coupled with a frequent consumption of fast foods and instant noodles, and of nutrient poor foods, such as sweet and savory snacks. [36][37][38][39][40] Compared to the Vietnam General Nutrition Survey 2019-2020, the average quantity of consumption was higher for fruits (177 vs. 141 g) but lower for vegetables (130 vs. 230 g). 14 Despite this apparent improvement, the consumption of fruits and vegetables was still very low compared to the dietary guideline recommendations.…”

The Relationship Between Fast Food Consumption and Daily Lifestyle Changes During School Closures Following the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Adolescents in Korea

“…The number of students who choose their own food, including fast food, is increasing because of factors such as the nuclear family, increase in dual-income couples, and development of the food industry. 18,19 Social isolation during the pandemic may have contributed to worsening food insecurity. However, other studies have found a significant increase in consumption of home-cooked meals and lower intake of fast food among children and adolescents during the pandemic.…”

“…This might be because school closures temporarily halted free school lunches and forced adolescents to spend most of their time indoors, and adolescents may have had more convenient access to fast foods. The number of students who choose their own food, including fast food, is increasing because of factors such as the nuclear family, increase in dual-income couples, and development of the food industry [ 18 , 19 ]. Social isolation during the pandemic may have contributed to worsening food insecurity.…”

“…Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease-2019 (COV-ID- 19) in March 2020 in Korea, the disease has spread rapidly across the country. The South Korean government initially ordered the closures of all schools until May 2020, as a social distancing strategy according to the regional distribution of COVID-19 infections.…”