Junk Food Consumption Related to Female Adolescent Obesity

Abstract

Research background. The prevalence of obesity status in female teenagers aged 13-15 in Bantul Regency in 2018 had seen an increase of 6.43%. The obesity status in teenagers can be caused by several factors, one of which is excessive consumption of junk food. Aim of research: This research seeks to understand the correlation between the consumption of junk food and the obesity occurrence in female adolescents in Bantul Regency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This research belongs to the quantitative research with the design of case control. The sample of the research is female adolescents aged 13-18 in Bantul selected randomly using Cluster Random Sampling technique, resulting in 309 female adolescents consisting of 73 case groups and 237 control groups. The data were analyzed using correlation test Rank Spearman. Result: In case groups, it was found that the average score of junk food consumption 15.14 ± 5.61 and in control group, it was 17.02 ± 6.61. The Spearman correlation test showed that there was a significant correlation between the consumption of junk food and obesity occurrence in female adolescents in Bantul Regency p = 0.046 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Junk food consumption was proven to have a significant correlation with obesity occurrence in female adolescents because of the prevalence of its higher consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bantul.