Effect of junk food consumption on the nutritional status of adolescents

Abstract

Junk food consumption affects adolescent brain development in a manner that restricts their capacity for thought, learning, and memory. Additionally, it might make it harder to control impulsive behavior, and it might potentially raise an adolescent's likelihood of anxiety and depression. The current study aimed to find out the effect of junk food consumption on the nutritional status of the school and college-going adolescents. A cross sectional study was conducted among 390 adolescent students of Chattogram city. Two schools (Housing and Settlement Public School and CIDER International School) and two colleges (Pahartali College and Cambrian College) were chosen randomly. Adolescents were categorized into middle, and late adolescents. Data were collected from the categorized adolescent students using a pre-tested questionnaire. The data were analyzed by statistical software: STATA 17. Results demonstrated that male adolescent students (57%, 221/390) consumed junk foods more than female adolescent students (43%, 169/390). A total of 8% of participants (n=32) among the study population were found obessed and the level of junk food consumption was very high in these groups in comparison to non-obessed groups. Junk food consumption level was high among the participants of the CIDER International School (15.71%) followed by Housing and Settlement Public School (11.67%), Cambrian College (4%), and Pahartali College (3%). Consumption of Junk Food was significantly associated with gender, participants’ mothers’ education, fathers’ occupation, type of junk food consumed, and places of junk food consumption. The investigation also found that male participants (OR: 2.49, CI: 0.99- 6.24) were highly significant in developing obesity than female participants. Participants whose mothers completed graduation were more significant to develop obesity (OR: 6.4, CI: 1.97-19.96) due to high junk food consumption. Participants who had a high risk of developing obesity due to junk food consumption whose fathers were in service (OR:4.83, CI:1.67-14.03). Fast food consumers in high amounts had a high chance of developing obesity (OR: 9.08, CI:1.05-78.87). It was also revealed that participants used to eat junk food when they were at schools or colleges and also had a high chance of developing obesity (OR: 12.51, CI: 0.5-40.92). Both male and female adolescent students consumed an astonishing amount of junk food, even though they are aware (100%) of the negative effects of junk food. As the consumption of junk food negatively affects the health of adults including adolescents, therefore, the appropriate authorities should take necessary action to curve its consumption.