Fast food consumption pattern amongst undergraduates of various disciplines of private colleges in Pune

Authors

  • Sudhanshu A. Mahajan Department of Community Medicine, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Jayashree S. Gothankar Department of Community Medicine, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20196069

Keywords:

Fast food, Undergraduate students, Knowledge, Perception, Pune

Abstract

Background: The consumption of various types of fast food is increasingly germinating in all components of the world, each in developed and developing countries.

Methods: A cross sectional study was done to explore the perception and knowledge regarding fast food consumption from March 2019 to June 2019 amongst the 300 undergraduate students within the ages of 18 to 20 of three established private colleges of different disciplines in Pune. Paperless data was collected by a predesigned, pretested questionnaire with the help of google forms and statistical analysis was done.

Results: The prevalence of consumption of fast food was found to be maximum in the undergraduates belonging to the high-income group (socio-economic class I). Around 85% of the undergraduates consumed fast foods and out of 85% nearly 17% consumed once a day. The undergraduates from all disciplines were also perceived as fast food consumption is measure of one’s socio-economic status, 76% for medical and the lowest for engineering undergraduates (55%). A significant difference between medical, engineering and architecture undergraduates was reported regarding the perception that fast food consumption has no harmful effect on body (40, 26 and 57, p<0.001). About 37% of the students had very poor knowledge, 40% of the students had poor knowledge,13% had average and only 10% had good knowledge regarding fast food consumption leading to non-communicable diseases.

Conclusions: The consequences of this study propose that a requirement for health education programs that stimulate healthy eating habits and lifestyle for undergraduate college students.

Author Biographies

Sudhanshu A. Mahajan, Department of Community Medicine, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine

Jayashree S. Gothankar, Department of Community Medicine, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed to be University, Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine

References

Markets Rand. India Fast Food Market Report 2015 - 2020: Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18%. PR Newswire: press release distribution, targeting, monitoring and marketing. 2018. Available at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/india-fast-food-market-report-2015---2020-market-is-expected-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-18-505221141.html. Accessed on 6 December 2019.

Ashakiran DR, Deepthi R. Fast foods and their impact on health. JKIMSU. 2012;1(2):7-15.

Statista Research Department. India - average fast food consumption per week 2016-2018. Statistics. 2018. Available at: https://www.statista. com/statistics/561263/india-average-fast-food-consumption-per-week/. Accessed on 7 December 2019.

World Health Organization, 2000. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. World Health Organization Technical Report, series no 894. ISBN 92-4-120894-5 Geneva.

Habib A, Al Alyani M, Hussain I. Prevalence, Determinants and Consequences of Fast-Food Consumption among college students in Abha-Aseir. IJSRR. 2016;5(3):35-46.

Bipasha MS, Goon S. Fast food preferences and food habits among students of private universities in Bangladesh. South East Asia J Public Health. 2013;3(1):61-4.

Kayisoglu S, Içoz A. Effect of gender on fast-food consumption habits of high school and university students in Tekirdag, Turkey. Acta Alimentaria. 2014;43(1):53-60.

Nondzor HE, Tawiah YS. Consumer perception and preference of fast food: a study of tertiary students in Ghana. Sci J Business Manag. 2015;3(1):43-9.

Bowman SA, Gortmaker SL, Ebbeling CB, Pereira MA, Ludwig DS. Effects of fast-food consumption on energy intake and diet quality among children in a national household survey. Pediatrics. 2004;113(1):112-8.

Paeratakul S, Ferdinand DP, Champagne CM, Ryan DH, Bray GA. Fast-food consumption among US adults and children: dietary and nutrient intake profile. J Am Diebetic Assoc. 2003;103(10):1332-8.

Simon PA, Kwan D, Angelescu A, Shih M, Fielding JE. Proximity of fast food restaurants to schools: do neighborhood income and type of school matter? Prev Med. 2008;47(3):284-8.

Jayasinghe JM, De Silva LP. Fast Food Consumption and Health Status of Students of a University in Sri Lanka. J Food Agriculture. 2014;7:1-2.

Yarmohammadi P, Sharifirad GR, Azadbakht L, Yarmohammadi P, Rahaei Z, Bahrevar V, et al. The Association between Socio-Demographic Charactristics and Fast Food Consumption withinHigh School Students in Isfahan, Iran. J Community Health Res. 2015;4(3):194-202.

Downloads

Published

2020-01-28

How to Cite

Mahajan, S. A., & Gothankar, J. S. (2020). Fast food consumption pattern amongst undergraduates of various disciplines of private colleges in Pune. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 7(2), 505–511. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20196069

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles