Fast Food Consumption Among Adolescent Girls in Ernakulam

1. Fast Food Consumption Among Adolescent Girls in Ernakulam By Dr. Leena Leon Asst. Professor, Department of Home Science, St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam

2. Fast Food — A Definition • Fast food is any food that: • Is quick and convenient • Lowest in nutritional quality • High in saturated fat • High in sodium and sugar content • Low in fiber • Low in vitamins and minerals • Not made at home • Contains of artificial colors and flavoring agents • Processed or semi-processed

3. Objectives • Study the fast food habits and preference of adolescents • To compare present nutrient intake with RDA of ICMR to assess the nutritional status of adolescent girls • Find out factors that leads adolescents to fast foods • Determine the extent of fast food consumption • Determine the awareness level of the health hazards of fast food consumption

4. Why the study? • Increasing consumption of fast food among adolescents • Increasing health problems among adolescents • Lack of interests in games, extra curricular activities, … • Problems like obesity, cardiovascular risk, low immunity levels, … • Increased threat to adolescent girls… • Are adolescents aware of the health hazards of fast foods?

5. How the study was conducted? • Preliminary Study: • Population – Adolescent girls (13-18) • Area – Ernakulam District, Kerala • No. of students – 5672 (8 Schools) • Fast food consumers (at least once a week) – 4380 (77.22%) • Target Population (at least 3 times a week) – 3302 (58.22%) • Low income (less than Rs.100000 p.a.) – 860 students (26.04%) • Middle income (above Rs.100000 & below 250000) – 1882 students (57%) • High income (above Rs.250000) – 560 students (16.95%)

6. Research Methodology • Method – Survey • Target population – 3302 • Sampling method – Proportionate Stratified Sampling • Strata – LI, MI, HI • Each strata is further divided into 3 groups based on age – 13 and 14, 15 and 16 17 and 18 • Simple random samples selected from each stratum

7. Study Design • Semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data regarding general and fast food habits, preferences, awareness, frequency consumption and factors influence fast food consumption • Dietary recall of 3 consecutive days to estimate nutrient consumption • Data collected through personal interview of the participants.

8. Sample and Sample size • Target population –Adolescent girls between the age of 13–18 • Selection criterion – Adolescents who consumed fast food three or more times in a week • Population identified by – Pilot study • Participants – From eight different educational institutions in Ernakulam • Sample size – 554

9. Participants’ Profile

10. General Dietary Habits

11. Comparison of Mean Nutrient Intake with RDA

12. Comparison of Mean Nutrient Intake with RDA

13. Nutritional Status using NHANES BMI Age/Sex Percentiles

14. Mode of Introduction

15. Fast Food Sources

16. Reasons for Fast Food Consumption

17. Sources of Information

18. Conclusion • The study highlighted the dangers of the fast food trap that the adolescents are in. • Majority of the participants consumed fast foods without knowing the health impacts and long term health implications. • The parents as well as the children were equally unaware of the potentials health problems that could arise from regular consumption of fast food. • The importance of a balanced diet and regular and good eating habits were often ignored due to a host of reasons from ignorance to lack of time. So the necessity of awareness programs targeted at parents and children became evident. • The media should play its role by stopping the glorification of fast foods through celebrity advertisements and instead try to educate the audience about good food habits, good foods and why it is important to stay away from fast foods.

19. Thank you very much… LEENA LEON