Predilection for Junk Food Consumption among 15-Year-Old School Children in North Chennai , India

Abstract

Junk food culture has a vigorously uprising trend among youngsters and it makes people eat without planning. They eat not only during pre-set mealtime, but also in the leisure time (1,2,3). A food that is high in fat, sodium, and/or sugar, provides high calories, but is of no value, is generally known as a "junk food." Junk food seems attractive and is easy to prepare, carry, purchase, and consume. Common junk food includes fast food (burgers, pizzas, patties, nuggets, and so forth), chips, candy, sweet desserts, as well as aerated beverages (1,4). The terms fast food and junk food are often used interchangeably (5). Ingredients of the junk foods give them a good taste, making them addictive, and pose many health hazards. Multiple factors may influence the consumption of junk food. Studies among adolescents suggest that taste preferences, parental modeling, convenience, marketing strategies, and low prices all may play an influential role (6,7). It is known that food preferences develop in childhood; these dietary behaviors continue into adulthood and increase the risks of chronic diseases later in life (8,9,10). The early stages in the juvenility of teens represent a crucial period of transition in the overall human development; the total nutrient needs are higher during this stage of growth than in any other stage of the life cycle (11,12). It is also the time when a boy or girl increases their social interactions with their peers and develop different eating habits (6). It is a stage when they are least bothered about what they eat (13). Currently, fast food and junk food have expanded their sales in schools (14). For many students, the day is not complete without observing the "daily ritual" of visiting the junk food shop in and around the school premises (5).

Junk Food Consumption among High School Students in Iran: The Role of Food Advertising

“…Kuhi et al also found a significant and positive association between exposure to advertisements and fast food consumption; those who were more exposed to advertisements, had eaten more fast food [39]. In the study of Purushothamanet al, all of adolescents reported that advertisements influenced them to eat more junk foods [40]. According to the results of current study and other similar studies, it can be stated that the media and their food advertisement have very important role in adolescents' eating habits.…”

Junk Food Consumption and its Associated Factors in High School Students in Rasht in 2017

“…According to studies, the causes of dramatic increase in consumption of junk food in adolescents are the taste change, quick and easy access, being delicious, family structure, low cost, and tendency to these foods (9). Other studies have mentioned the roles of factors such as family and peers in the acquisition of nutrition knowledge and in taking measure to conduct a nutritional behavior (8,10,11).…”