Fast Food Consumption and Obesity Risk among University Students of Bangladesh

Abstract

Abstract:Fast food consumption leading to excess calorie intake coupled with lack of adequate physical activity has increased the risk of obesity among the world population for the past few decades. A cross-sectional study was carried out from March to April 2014 among four hundred twenty six students selected by the use of systematic random sampling attending in an established private university of Bangladesh. The objective of this study was evaluating fast food consumption and prevalence of obesity among university students. The overall prevalence of fast food consumption was 55.9 % and 44.1 % for males and females, respectively. Approximately 56% of university students went to fast food restaurants at least once per week and 44 % went regularly (≥2 times/wk). Status of obesity was found to be significantly associated with frequenting fast-food restaurants; students going two or more times per week were more likely to be obese (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.3-3.9). Obesity was detected among 56.2 % of those students going two or more times per week in fast food restaurants showed significantly high prevalence (X 2 =7.82, p<0.05). This study provides evidence of increasing trend in obesity among university students consuming fast foods regularly. A combined initiative from family, universities, public health experts and government is much needed to tackle this public health problem.

Fast food consumption pattern among postgraduate female student living in hostel of University of Rajasthan, India

“…Approximately 56% of them went to fast food restaurants at least once per week and 44 % went regularly (³2 times/wk). Obesity was found to be significantly associated with frequency of fast food consumption (Goon et al 2014). The intake of food items bhujia, chips, chocolate, patties and pastry on daily basis could be due to the monotonous menu being followed in hostel mess.…”

“…Among respondents who reported going to fastfood restaurants at least once per week, the reason for choosing this type of restaurant was that it was quick and convenient (41.9%), followed by taste of the food (30.6%), sociability, and its good value in terms of cost statistically highly significant correlation (P=0.01) between frequency of consumption and BMI level (Goon et al, 2014). Islam and Ullah(2010) identified brand reputation, accessibility, taste, cost, quality, food hygiene, and fat and cholesterol level as the factors related to fast food preferences by the university students in Bangladesh.…”

TRACK Implementation: a Bangladesh Scenario

“…Around 22% to 27% Bangladeshi youth were recorded as obese with different stages of obesity [32]. Another study says nearly 40% Bangladeshi youth, taking fast foods were recognized as overweight where 32% were noted as obese with different phases of obesity and overall prevalence of fast food consumption was about 53.8% [33]. In a newspaper interview, Professor AK Azad Khan, President, Diabetic Association of Bangladesh said 40% school going children of Dhaka city were either obese or overweight [34].…”

Food Systems for Healthier Diets in Bangladesh: Towards a Research Agenda

“…Islam and Ullah (2010) find that factors such as brand reputation, cleanliness, and similarity of taste with previous experience all contribute to fast food purchases among a sample in Dhaka. Similarly Goon, Bipasha, and Islam (2014)…”